Talented sprinter Not Listenin’tome is set to return to racing in the 2014 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 11 after winning a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Not Listenin’tome contested the sixth barrier trial of the morning over 900 metres and was not asked to a great deal by jockey Tommy Berry, but was still able to record a comfortable win from Religify and Spinning Diamond.
The Dylan Thomas gelding on the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 and was second in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 during the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival, but was ruled out of the rest of the carnival with a virus and then battled a nasty throat issue.
Trainer Gary Moore, who has taken over from Team Hawkes, told Sky Racing HQ that at one stage it looked as though Not Listenin’tome would never race again, but he was happy with the way the four-year-old performed in the barrier trial this morning.
“I was very impressed with the way that he trailed,” Moore said.
“He has had a rushed preparation, he had that throat issue, and I had my veterinarian at the trials and he was very happy as Tommy Berry was.
“He was in Agnes Veterinary Clinic for a month and we thought we were going to lose him, but my brother John never lost faith in the horse.
“He didn’t cough, his lungs were clean and his temperature is normal.
“We are going in the first direction.”
It was announced earlier in the year that the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December would be the major target for Not Listenin’tome this preparation and Moore confirmed that the race was still on the agenda for the talented gelding.
Moore said that Not Listenin’tome would resume in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m), which is also set to feature Rubick and Overreach, before potentially returning to Group 1 level for the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
“It is a big ask first-up in the Schillaci and if the horse comes back I think that his best run will be in the Hong Kong Sprint,” Moore said.
“If he comes back that is where he will be heading for the Hong Kong Sprint and then he will return to Australia.
“We will monitor him and the plan is to run in the Schillaci, but you will be running into horses that are rock hard fit.
“If he can run well that will give us some ideal as to whether we run in the Manikato.
“We will see how he travels down to Melbourne, but from where he has come from we are delighted.”
Not Listenin’tome is yet to record a win at Group 1 level, but he finished second behind Zoustar in the 2013 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and second behind Appearance in the Canterbury Stakes earlier this year.