Trainer David Payne is hoping to end a frustrating run of outs with Criterion when he lines up in the Group 2 $250,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Criterion winning the Todman Stakes at Rosehill in the Autumn. Photo by Steve Hart.
Payne is bewildered why Criterion has not been in the prizemoney at his two runs from a spell and decided to remove the blinkers in a bid to get the three year old back in form.
“He’s a good horse on his day, he’s just not firing at the moment,” Payne told The Daily Telegraph.
“We will try something different on Saturday by taking the blinkers off – hopefully it gets his mind on the job again.”
Payne had a high opinion of Criterion as a two year old after winning the Listed $250,000 Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 10.
The Sebring colt then went on to win the Group 2 $300,000 Spotless Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23 before finishing sixth to Overreach in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6.
He then stepped out in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon 150th Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and ran a creditable sixth to Guelph, beaten just over two lengths.
Premiership winning jockey Nash Rawiller takes over the reins from Christian Reith on Crieterion who has drawn barrier two in the field of seven three year olds in the Stan Fox Stakes.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Aussies Love Sport is lining up for a hat trick of wins after scoring at his last starts at Rosehill and will jump from gate four.
Aussie’s Love Sport is improving with every start and handled the step up in grade last start in winning the Group 3 $125,000 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 7.
Hugh Bowman is back aboard Eurozone after Josh Parr rode the Bart and James Cummings trained colt when sixth to Zoustar in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 14.
Eurozone gets his chance to bounce back after being slightly disappointing at his last two starts after winning the Listed $100,000 The Rosebud (1200m) at Randwick on August 10 and will jump from the outside gate in the small field.
