Sandown back-up plan for Verdad

Verdad was denied the chance to provide Robbie Griffiths with a Flemington treble last Saturday, but he is a chance to get a shot at another Saturday city win this weekend.

The Cranbourne trainer has turned his attention to Sandown, but his position in the field will again be dependent on Melbourne’s weather.

Raceday rain prompted Griffiths to scratch Verdad from a 1600m race at Flemington last Saturday and he is hopeful the early forecast of fine weather until Friday and only a slight chance of minimal showers later in the week holds true.

He has been nominated for both the 1400m and 1800m benchmark 100 events with Griffiths suggesting a start in the former was most likely.

“He’s going to drop back to 1400, we don’t want to, but five weeks between runs it’s probably better to do that than go up to 1800,” Griffiths said.

“He’s in good order, we just have to wait another week. He’s hopeless on soft ground.”

Griffiths and Verdad’s owners experienced a frustrating run of outs when the son of Justify went 14 runs without a win – but with seven second placings, including the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at just his second start – after a debut victory at Bendigo before winning two of his past three.

Consideration was given to sending the four-year-old to Queensland to target some lower-level Group races, but a string of wet tracks up north encouraged to remain in Victoria with an eye to the Winter Championship, which culminates with a 1600m Listed final at Flemington in early July.

“There’s some Black Type racing in Queensland, but they’re having a really wet year up there,” Griffiths said.

“He’s probably better off hoping that the drought continues here for the Winter Championship.”

Two of Verdad’s stablemates appreciated the wet track that denied Verdad a start at Flemington with Zourain and Liberami visiting the winner’s stall on Saturday.