Consistent Group 1 performer Speediness will kick of his Queensland Winter Carnival campaign in the Group 2 $200,000 SMEG Victory Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Speediness will resume in the Victory Stakes at the Gold Coast. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Speediness hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to Gai Waterhouse’s French import Pornichet in the Group 3 $150,000 Mack Tow Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown at the end of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Testa Rosa seven year old has been placed on three occasions at Group 1 level, including a second to Trust In A Gust during the Spring in the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and trainer Colin Scott is anticipating a profitable Winter campaign after an impressive recent jumpout at Caulfield.
“His action was great and I thought he trialled super, there was nothing between him and Srikandi,” Scott told racing.com.
“Steven Arnold rode him at Caulfield and he’s happy to ride him throughout his preparation based on that trial.”
Speediness will be based at the Sunshine Coast while in Queensland and Scott has reported that the seven year old has settled in well.
“He’s been up here in Queensland since Tuesday last week and he’s settled in well. He’ll have his final gallop tomorrow morning on the course proper at the Sunshine Coast and then head to the Victory Stakes on Saturday.”
Speediness’ other Group 1 placings were a third to Boban in the 2013 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and a second to Gordon Lord Byron in the 2014 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on a soft track.
Scott is hoping the recent run of wet tracks in South East Queensland continues to help Speediness’ old legs as he aims up again to tackle the major Group 1 sprints during the Carnival.
The Caulfield trainer has already pencilled in the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 23 and the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) also run at Doomben this year on June 6.
But a run in the Group 1 $500,000 UBET BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben two weeks after the Victory Stakes is yet to be confirmed.
“The BTC Cup (1200m) two weeks after Saturday isn’t out of the question if it was going to be a rain affected track on the day,” Scott said.
“Unfortunately this week he’s managed to achieve his regular goal of getting rid of any rain that was around, it’s unbelievable but there’s nothing you can do about that.”
Speediness has earned over a $1m in prizemoney for his connections from seven wins, seven seconds and four thirds from thirty-seven starts.
