Trainer Colin Scott has revealed that Speediness could be scratched from the 2014 Toorak Handicap if the Caulfield track is rated a good three before the opening race on Saturday.
Leading Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman will partner Speediness in the 2014 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Speediness beat home just a single runner in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 and Scott blamed the poor performance on the Caulfield track that was rated a good two.
Scott told Racing Ahead that he hopes the Caulfield track is presented with a bit more give in it on Saturday, despite Racing Victoria indicating that a track rated a good three was ideal for racing, but said that he would consider removing Speediness from the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) if he deemed the track to be too firm.
“We will consider scratching for sure,” Scott said.
“If the track is a good three at six o’clock in the morning on a 24 degree day on a very fast drying track there is no way by four o’clock in the morning that it is still going to be a good three.
“It is definitely something that we will look, but we hope that the guys will do the right thing and put a bit more water on the track.
“If they want to race continuously on a good three then the track probably needs to be a dead four early in the morning.”
While Scott is concerned about the way that the Caulfield track will be presented on Saturday, he is happy with the condition of Speediness heading into the 2014 Toorak Handicap.
Scott said that Speediness had taken a while to bounce back from the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but had responded well to treatment for a few nagging injuries and the Caulfield-based trainer is confident that the Testa Rossa gelding will produce an improved performance in the in the Group 1 event on Saturday.
“He definitely didn’t let down on the track, upgraded to a good two certainly wasn’t ideal for him,” Scott said.
“For a couple of days he was a little bit jaded, but he certainly bounced back this week.
“We found a few little niggling things, but they have been treated and that has certainly brought him right back on.
“I would certainly be looking for a significant improvement going into the Toorak.
“I think that there is definitely still some improvement.
“He is half of two horses at the moment; his front half is spring coat and his back half is still all wintery.”
“His weight is not too far away from being spot on and there is definitely still some improvement in him.”
Speediness finished fourth in the Toorak Handicap before finishing a close second in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley and he is set to follow the same path this spring.
