Set to Press Down on Christmas Handicap at Morphettville

A last start failure down the Flemington straight is not deterring Peter Hardacre’s opinion of Press Down being a black-type performer yet again.

After winning the Listed W H Wylie Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville in September, the five-year-old finished down the track in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival on November 2.

From a freshen and coming back to a successful scene in Adelaide, Press Down will carry 60-kilos in the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday.

“He had three weeks in the paddock, five weeks back in work and we’re trying to keep him a little bit fresh between runs,” Hardacre said.

“He races well fresh and with this race in mind since he failed at Flemington, but he pulled up fine after that.”

Noting his belief that the gelding was a victim of not being comfortable down the long Flemington straight, the South Australian conditioner is happy to press on.

“We’re just putting it down to him not handling the straight but back in Adelaide on his home track, we’re really happy with him,” Hardacre added.

“We went to Flemington a couple of times thinking we’d be a good chance but he just hasn’t fired there and we’re not the first ones in that boat.

“I still think he’s up to the mark and I think he’s got more in him plus he’s matured a lot as a racehorse.

“At this stage well will stick to Adelaide in the lead-up to our carnival.”

With Neil Farley to ride, Press Down is rated a $7.50 betting apps chance and Hardacre notes Press Down’s size and strength as positives in being able to overcome the topweight impost.

In an open race, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea-trained Prairie Flower holds favouritism at $5.50.

Late last month, Hardacre wound back the number of horses he had in his stable and downsized to a more manageable commitment to achieve a better quality of stock which, so far, has paid dividends for him.

“It was more that we had too many horses racing all at once and we didn’t have the staff to handle them,” he said.

“We’re working 15 horses and we wanted to focus on these higher grade types.

“It has worked well being able to give me a nice clear headspace to focus on those older horses.

“It is easy just to keep pressing on just to have the numbers and I didn’t feel comfortable doing that.”