A quick back up is set to favour Casual Choice when he lines up in the $85,000 The July Sprint (1150m) on the Kensington track at Randwick on Saturday.
Casual Choice, yellow cap, winning at Rosehill after a seven day back up. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bookmakers have installed Casual Choice as the short priced favourite for the feature race of the day and trainer Joe Pride agrees, pointing out that the four year old won two starts back at Rosehill after finishing fourth the week before at the same track.
“He’s in good order, and we’re going back to a pattern that’s worked with him before,” Pride told Racenet.
After his win at Rosehill over Cradle Me, Pride gave Casual Choice a two week break before the placings were reversed over the same course and distance last week.
Pride said that the hard Rosehill track contributed to Casual Choice’s defeat and he is expecting a slightly softer surface on the Kensington track and the seven day turnaround to help return him to the winner’s stall.
“He didn’t get the money last week and I think the track might have been a bit firm for him,” Pride said.
“The breed just want a bit of sting out of the track.
“I’m hoping the Kenso track is a touch softer than what it was at Rosehill on Saturday.”
“Casual Choice is only lightly-raced, but he is a horse of fairly high potential and he is starting to show that now.”
Globetrotting jockey Tommy Berry is back in full swing after returning from a short riding stint in Hong Kong and replaces Jason Collett on Casual Choice.
Pride will also saddle up Earnest Ernest with apprentice Winona Costin to ride again and the Warwick Farm trainer was happy with his fourth to Cradle Me and Casual Choice last week at Rosehill.
“He was a big run Ernest on the weekend,” Pride said.
“I was watching the other two and I didn’t realise how good his run was until I got to watch the replay.
“He probably should have won the race I think and he is in good form.”
There is certain to be plenty of pace on with Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster opting to run speedster Adebisi on the Kensington track after scratching him from the Madam Wu Open Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.
Adebisi was back in the winner’s stall at Doomben a fortnight ago for the first time since winning the Group 3 $150,000 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in February 2013.
Casual Choice is the ruling favourite for the July Sprint at $2.60 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Territory at $4.20, Adebisi at $5.50, Earnest Ernest at $7 and Tahitan Black at $7.50.
