Counterattack has been backed into 2016 Eskimo Prince Stakes odds of $4 and the talented colt has been a clear market mover in the lead-up to the Group 3 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Counterattack will return to the races in the 2016 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Counterattack has been a slightly inconsistent performer during his racing career to date, but he produced three impressive performances from his four race starts during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
The son of Redoute’s Choice returned to the races with an impressive win in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 and he was slightly disappointing in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on October 3, but he returned to winning form in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) on October 17 and he finished a more than credible third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
Trainer Chris Waller has big plans for Counterattack during the autumn, with the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on the agenda, and he is confident that the three-year-old can make a winning start to his preparation in the 2016 Eskimo Prince Stakes.
“He is a Listed winner and he ran third in the Coolmore,” Waller said.
“He is a good colt and he has come back well.
“He has only had the one trial, but he is a fit horse.”
Counterattack wore blinkers when he took out the Brian Crowley Stakes and finished third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but Waller has elected to take the blinkers off the colt in the Eskimo Prince Stakes.
The Group 1 placegetter will instead wear blinkers and Waller is hopeful that this gear change will help Counterattack settle better in the early stages of the Eskimo Prince Stakes.
“The winkers are not quite as severe as the blinkers,” Waller said.
“Blinkers make this horse go a little bit keen, but they certainly do the job and make him keen because without them he doesn’t focus.
“Red Tracer his sister was the same and Shellscrape his brother was the same.
“This horse will get them back on, but we have just gone to the winkers first-up because we don’t want him over racing first-up.”
Counterattack is currently available at 2016 Eskimo Prince Stakes odds of $4 with Ladbrokes after opening at $4.40 and he is on the second line of betting behind the resuming Pride Of Dubai, who has drifted from $3.60 out to $3.90.
