Decircles recorded his first race win in almost a year when he took out the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day and trainer Danny O’Brien is confident that the talented sprinter can record back-to-back wins when he contests the 2015 Chester Manifold Stakes at the same venue on Saturday.
Decircles will have the chance to record back-to-back wins when he contests the 2015 Chester Manifold Stakes in Melbourne this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Decircles took out the Leonard Handicap (1400m) at Flemington in January last year, but was unable to replicate that form during the rest of his autumn and winter campaign and he was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing third in a heat of the Winter Championship (1400m) at Flemington on June 14.
The Encosta De Lago gelding returned to racing with two average performances in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and The Lola’s Gift Handicap (1400m) at the same venue on December 13 before he showed his true ability in the Standish Handicap.
O’Brien told Racing Ahead this morning that Decircles did not have a particularly tough run in the Standish Handicap and is happy with his form heading into the Chester Manifold Stakes this weekend.
“He was always heading towards this race and part of the summer program that we had mapped out for him,” O’Brien said.
“Obviously we got away with the Standish on the way to it.
“It was just an even gallop the Standish and he didn’t have a gut buster.
“He certainly looks to be in very good form going into Saturday.”
Decircles jumped from barrier 10 in the Standish Handicap and received a lovely run behind Lord Of The Sky up the famous Flemington straight before he was exposed late by jockey Stephen Baster.
O’Brien believes that Decircles will need another cosy run if he is going to be able to win the Chester Manifold Stakes over 1400 metres on Saturday and feels that the barrier draw will be key to the winning chances of the six-year-old.
“As long as he draws in the right part of the track; he sort of needs that run behind the speed without having to do too much early when it comes to a 1400 metres race,” O’Brien said.
“If he can get that right run he should be very competitive again.”
Decircles has recorded five wins from his 27 career starts and a victory in the Chester Manifold Stakes will see his total career prizemoney go above $500,000.
