Scott Confident Speediness Can Perform First-Up In The Expressway Stakes

Trainer Colin Scott is confident that consistent galloper Speediness is ready to run a big race when he returns to the races in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Speediness is chasing his first win at Group 2 level in the Expressway Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Speediness is chasing his first win at Group 2 level in the Expressway Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Speediness spent a month in the spelling paddock following his impressive 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and Scott believes that the Testa Rossa gelding has returned in excellent condition; with the Caulfield-based trainer happy with his performance behind Smokin’ Joey in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Sandown last Friday.

“He got up here early on Sunday morning and has settled in nicely,” Scott said.

“We managed to get him out for a month and he is really well.

“He is a not a great speller, so he was out in the paddock during the day but came into a box for the night.

“He does really well that way.

“Personally I was very pleased with the way that he trialed.”

Speediness has an excellent first-up record and started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a most impressive win in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 7, where he flashed home late with a strong finishing burst.

The 2014 Expressway Stakes has drawn a strong set of nominations, highlighted by Emirates Stakes winner Boban, but Scott is confident that Speediness has the fitness required to replicate his Bobbie Lewis Quality victory this weekend.

“Realistically he is probably fitter than he was last time just because he has only had a month off and he had a jump out,” Scott said.

“He looks in very, very good order.”

Speediness was narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory in the Emirates Stakes, but Scott confirmed that he will have a number of opportunities to break through for a maiden win at the highest level of racing during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

He will have the second start of his campaign in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 before returning to Group 1 level for the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at the same venue on March 15, the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

Rising jockey James McDonald will partner Speediness in the Expressway Stakes this weekend.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.