Trainer Colin Scott has revealed that he could not be happy with Speediness ahead of the 2014 Doncaster Mile and is surprised by the odds on offer for his star galloper in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick.
Speediness is chasing his maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Speediness stamped himself as a Group 1 contender with a third place finish behind Boban in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 9 last year and bounced back from a lackluster showing in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 to finish a narrow second behind Gordon Lord Byron in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, but is still available at the lengthy 2014 Doncaster Mile odds of $17.
Scott told TVN that Speediness had trained on strongly following his impressive George Ryder Stakes performance and is confident that the son of Testa Rossa will play a part in the finish of the Doncaster Mile this weekend.
“I think he’s going as well if not a touch better now than when he ran in the Emirates,” Scott said.
“He gets a nice weight drop from his weight-for-age run and if he runs up to those two runs he’s going to be thereabouts.
“I can’t understand how he is those odds.
“He’s been super since the Ryder and I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Speediness handled the wet Rosehill Gardens track in the George Ryder Stakes and has previously performed well on rain affected surfaces, which could be a big plus heading into the Doncaster Mile with rain forecast in Sydney throughout the week.
Scott said that he wouldn’t mind a bit of give out of the track on Saturday, but is confident that the six-year-old will perform well on any surface.
“The worst side of Dead to Slow, I’d be a pretty happy camper,” Scott said.
“He galloped on the course proper at Randwick last Saturday and the consensus was that it was genuine heavy and he got through it alright.
“You would not want it bottomless, but he is as genuine as the day is long.
“I’m pretty confident he would handle it.”
Team Hawkes-trained Messene ($3.50) is currently a clear favourite in 2014 Doncaster Mile betting markets from talented Kiwi colt El Roca ($8), Doncaster Prelude winner Weary ($9), Chris Waller-trained Hawkspur ($11) and triple Group 1 winner Boban ($12).
