Sir Now eyes Monash Stakes as trainer looks east

A deficiency in suitable races within his home state has compelled trainer Darryl Hewitt from Murray Bridge to consider Caulfield for two of his horses.

The reliable Sir Now is set to contest the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) this coming Saturday, while Snoopy Now is scheduled to carry the top weight in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1700m).

Hewitt indicated that interstate competition was a necessary consideration, particularly for Sir Now, who has been allocated substantial weights in races held in his home state.

Sir Now, a seasoned campaigner with nine victories from 24 starts, eight additional placings, and earnings exceeding $400,000, had shouldered weights up to 65kg in recent outings prior to the allowance for apprentice Alysha Warren.

"He can't race here because there's no races for him," Hewitt explained.

"He's running around 65 kilos on his back, but he's been pretty honest all the way through."

"Ideally you would stay in your own backyard as he's been pretty competitive, but he deserves a chance over there."

"The track is going to be a soft five or six come Saturday, but he can handle heavy going, if it goes that way, and he comes down four-and-a-half or five kilos on his last run."

Sir Now has attracted significant support from punters, firming from $15 to $6.50 in the initial betting.

Hewitt is not unfamiliar with Victorian racing, having previously been based in Benalla around two decades ago with a couple of horses, Merlot Now and Sparkling Now, who were comparable types to the two horses competing at Caulfield on Saturday.

Merlot Now 'outgrew' the Adelaide racing scene with his rating, a situation Hewitt noted was not uncommon, and is now occurring again with Sir Now.

This will be Sir Now's second journey to Melbourne, having previously secured fifth place at Flemington over 1000m on VRC Oaks Day.

"They came home pretty quick that day and we went over thinking it was going to be a wet track and it ended up being a Good 3, and he finished not far behind Rey Magnerio."

"He won't disgrace himself over there on Saturday."

The ride on Saturday will be taken by senior jockey Connor Murtagh, who replaces Warren.

Stablemate Snoopy Now is entering the race off the back of a last-start victory in a benchmark 78 event and will be partnered by the in-form apprentice Jackson Radley.

Hewitt expressed concerns about lining up Snoopy Now against Melbourne opposition, considering the weight the horse has been assigned to carry.

"It's like the SANFL over here, against the AFL over there, and we're getting rated the same," Hewitt remarked.

"He's taking an 85 rating over there against other 85 rated horses that are racing against better quality week in, week out."

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