Leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan is hoping that the rain will continue to fall in Melbourne this week to enhance the winning chances of classy colt Whiskey Allround in the Nine West Plate (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Whiskey Allround is one of several classy three-year-olds that are set to take part in the Nine West Plate at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
The Nine West Plate is not a group race but has drawn a very strong field, with the returning Villa Verde, Peter Moody-trained Il Cavallo and Bel Esprit gelding Clevadude all to set take part, and Whiskey Allround will need to be at his very best to record his maiden victory in Melbourne.
Gollan told Racing Ahead that the All Bar One gelding has improved from his fair first-up performance in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington a weekend ago and said he is confident that the wet track will give the three-year-old an excellent winning the chance.
“He has come through that really well and I think that he needed that first-up run,” Gollan said on RSN.
“Unfortunately he missed the San Domenico and heading up the straight first-up is always tough, especially for horses that have never been down it.
“He has only come on since then.
“He ran second on a very heavy Rosehill track in the Silver Slipper so the rain is only a positive for us.
“We will really get to see where he is at this preparation.”
Whiskey Allround was ridden close to the lead in the Danehill Stakes and Gollan said that he will be instructing rising jockey James McDonald to give the gelding a quieter ride this weekend.
“I would prefer him to be just off the speed,” Gollan said.
“We certainly won’t be driving out to lead and I would like to take a sit.
“He over raced at the 1200 the other day and I’d like to see him jump out and just relax off the speed.”
Whiskey Allround is chasing his first race win since he started his career with three straight victories in the Hopeful Plate (1000m), Timeform Handicap (1000m) and River Junction Drought Masters (1000m) in Brisbane last spring.
