SCOTT Aspery didn’t let his heart rule his head.
Whilst the Newcastle trainer gave serious consideration to tackling the “big boys” in the $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) at home on Saturday with Uzziah, he made a commonsense decision to instead tackle the Benchmark 94 Handicap over the same distance.
“Andrew Gibbons galloped Uzziah for me on Tuesday morning, and afterwards said he would be competitive in The Hunter,” Aspery said on Wednesday evening.
“But there were a few things against us once I had a good look at everything.
“Uzziah drew awkwardly in The Hunter, and with both Coal Crusher and Felix Majestic in the race, there’s no way he would have got control.
“It’s a different story in the Benchmark 94, where he has drawn barrier four and should be able to get control.
“It came down to either possibly finishing in the Top 4 or 5 in The Hunter, or having a real chance of winning the Benchmark 94.”
Apprentice Molly Bourke knows Uzziah well, having ridden him four times – all at metropolitan meetings - for two Sydney wins, a second at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting in May, and a fourth at Royal Randwick.
She also partnered the six-year-old in a 795m Warwick Farm trial late last month, and is expected to use 1.5kg of her 2kg claim, bringing him into Saturday’s assignment with 52kg.
Ironically, Aspery says he would most likely have been going to the $1m Group 3 The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday week with Uzziah but for a setback after the gelding had led throughout first-up at $26 to land a Midway Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on September 7.
“Unfortunately, Uzziah subsequently picked up a chest infection and required anti-biotics and a couple of easy weeks to recover,” he explained.
“That’s why he didn’t race again until November 2 (when third with 58.5kg to Tristate in a Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1100m at Rosehill Gardens).
“There are a few very seasoned horses running in The Hunter, and I’m sure it’s the best move to focus on the Benchmark 94.”
Aspery has done a splendid job with the son of Outreach, whom he purchased at the 2020 Magic Millions yearling sale in Adelaide for $5000.
Uzziah has won six races and been placed eight times from 24 starts, and earned just over $350,000.
Trainer Joe Pride has withdrawn Private Eye from the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield to start him in The Hunter, along with stablemate and last year’s winner Coal Crusher.
Jay Ford will ride Private Eye, whom Pride has chosen to remove winkers and put blinkers back on, and Nash Rawiller partners Coal Crusher.
Exciting young sprinter Briasa, facing his first test in Group company, is all the rage for Newcastle’s richest race.
He had firmed to $2.90 favoritism with TAB.com.au on Wednesday afternoon, and The Kosciuszko winner Far Too Easy was next at $4.
Along with Uzziah, Melbourne sprinter Charm Stone also was an early withdrawal from The Hunter. He stays home to run in the $1m Rupert Clarke, where he has drawn an inside barrier compared with 12 at Newcastle.
. Apprentices Ben Osmond (Newcastle) and Zac Wadick (Hawkesbury) rode three of the six winners at Wednesday’s midweek Rosehill Gardens meeting.
Osmond scored on $8.50 chance Morning Sun in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m), and a resuming $19 outsider Little Beginnings for his master, leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).
Ther were his only two rides at Rosehill.
Wadick was successful on Edited By ($6.50), leading throughout in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).
Story John Curtis, November 13, 2024
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