Our Redente heads to Caulfield
Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter has always held a healthy opinion of Our Redente who is set for his second-up outing at Caulfield on Saturday.
Our Redente heads to the Stow Robotics Handicap (1400m) after flashing home for second in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on December 2.
Hunter was not surprised by the $31 shot’s first-up run that day, but it showed the trainer that Our Redente had recovered from a virus that not only affected the gelding but the majority of the stable.
“Usually, my horses are winning or are competitive,” Hunter said.
“We took a couple favourites to Sale, and they went terrible, and I knew that wasn’t my horses.
“So, we turned them out. We put the racehorses out and worked on educating our two-year-olds and when it was time, we brought the other horses back in.
“He (Our Redente) came in superb. His trials had been good, and I was looking forward to seeing what he would do in that race and what he had shown. I thought he would be competitive.”
Hunter did not have a runner for three months in early spring but since the start of November has produced four winners from 14 starters, including a double at Traralgon last Sunday.
What Hunter wants to see from Our Redente is transferring his winning form on soft ground to tracks without that give.
“He’s trained on well since that first-up run, but there’s still a question mark, is he just a wet tracker,” Hunter said.
“In the Doveton Stakes, there was a lot of horses that were wet trackers and he still beat them, so I don’t think he had the advantage on them.
“It’s now just whether he can show that form on a dry track which is what we’ll find out on Saturday.”
A positive performance on Saturday is likely to see Hunter set Our Redente for the new Saturday meeting at Geelong on January 6.
“He’s won over a mile at Ballarat, and there’s $300,000 race at Geelong over 1700 metres next month,” Hunter said.
“That race will be tagged for him, but we’ll just wait and see how he goes on Saturday first.”
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...