Signoff To Return At Flemington

2014 Melbourne Cup fourth placegetter Signoff is set to return to the races in the Building Engineering Trophy (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday and rising hoop Harry Coffey has been booked to take the ride.

Signoff will make his first appearance at the races in eight months at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Signoff will make his first appearance at the races in eight months at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Signoff stamped himself as one of the most talented stayers in Australia when he took out the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) and finished fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he missed the majority of the autumn carnival with a knee issue and a recurrence of that problem saw him miss the spring.

Coffey told Racing.com this afternoon that trainer Darren Weir has informed him that Signoff is over the injuries that kept him out of the 2015 Melbourne Cup and although he expects the Building Engineering Trophy to be too short for the stayer, he remains confident that he is in for a big campaign.

“It is really good to get the opportunity aboard such a good horse,” Coffey said.

“Even though the trip is probably a bit short for him, it is still a great thrill to on him and hopefully he runs well.

“It is good that the owners and Darren have the faith in me to put him on and hopefully we get around safely, he gets through the run well and he is ready for bigger and better things.

“I did get on him one morning in a jump out at Terang and he gave me an enormous feel.

“He felt really well and his action was really good and hopefully that carries into the race.

“Full credit to the owners who were patient enough to wait until the spring was over to do the right thing by the horse and the feedback is that he is well.

“The main thing is that he is over all his setbacks and we can be prepared for something pretty exciting with him.

“He is an exciting horse going forward.”

Signoff will carry the top weight of 60.5 kilograms in the Building Engineering Trophy and he is set to face nine rivals in the $90,000 event.

Red Bomber failed to fire first-up at Ballarat on November 21, but he finished his winter campaign with three impressive victories, while 2014 P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner Star Rolling will receive another opportunity after he failed to beat home a single runner in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on November 14.

Gracious Prospect, Honorius, Burning Front, Chile Express, Precious Gem, Siegestor and Dan Zephyr round out the 2015 Building Engineering Trophy field.

About The Author

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.