JAMES Ponsonby says it has always been his plan to tackle a Midway Handicap in town with Semper Fortis whilst he is in such good form.
And the Hawkesbury trainer has added a second bow to his string for the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday with last start Kensington runner-up Socrates.
Jay Ford will ride Semper Fortis, and Dylan Gibbons partners Socrates.
Whilst the stablemates have drawn awkwardly (Semper Fortis 11 and Socrates 12), Ponsonby is looking forward to taking both to town.
Semper Fortis, a Tavistock six-year-old, has won his last two starts at Wagga over 2000m and 2500m; the latest in the Riverina Cup on August 11 under 61kg.
“I’m not concerned at all about bringing him back to 1800m,” Ponsonby said on Friday morning.
“They no doubt will run along, and 1600m to 2000m is in his wheelhouse.
“The horse he beat (Knights Armour) last time at Wagga came out and won easily on the synthetic track at Canberra last Friday, so the form has stood up.
“Semper Fortis continues to work as well as ever.
“Obviously he is going to need a bit of luck, but I’m really happy with him.”
Socrates very nearly caused a boilover at $51 on the Kensington track on August 14 when just pipped by County Kilkenny in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m).
“Socrates’ work leading up to that race indicated he was getting back into form and I expected him to run well, but perhaps not that well,” Ponsonby said.
“Getting up in distance enabled him to show his gate speed, and he almost got away with it.
“Semper Fortis is the pick of my two, but Socrates has a big weight advantage (5.5kg less).
Semper Fortis won a Moonee Valley Maiden Plate (1600m) in June 2022 when previously trained in Victoria and, under Ponsonby’s care, was narrowly beaten in a Benchmark 72 Handuicap (1900m) in June.
Socrates, also by Tavistock (but a year older than his stablemate) won two Highway Handicaps at Randwick over 1600m and 1800m on heavy and soft ground respectively at Randwick in October, 2022 when Ponsonby trained in the country before relocating to Hawkesbury.
The former harness racing trainer-driver notched his 50th success as a thoroughbred mentor when Semper Fortis scored at Wagga on August 11.
Ponsonby is one of a host of provincial trainers chasing Saturday’s Randwick Midway.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainers Steve O’Halloran (Rico Suave) and Edward Cummings (Arts) have runners, along with Newcastle’s David Atkins (Promitto), Paul Perry (Forecaster), Jason Deamer (Jack Duggan) and Nathan Doyle (Ambassadors) also are represented.
Kembla Grange is represented by Mitch Beer (Order To Charge), Theresa Bateup (Mulvader) and Joe Ible (The Carpet Bagger), whilst Sara Ryan is Wyong’s lone representative with Cirebon.
Story John Curtis, August 30, 2024
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