Group 1 winning sprinter Terravista is on track to resume in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 20.
Terravista is on track to run in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Terravista is well into his Autumn Carnival preparation and trainer Joe Pride said that he is due to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on February 8 in readiness for his Autumn Carnival pipe opener.
“Terravista is definitely going to the Lightning and I’m not sure about Ball Of Muscle yet but the race does look like it is falling away a little bit,” Pride told Racenet.
Pride’s other top line sprinter Ball Of Muscle could also make an appearance in the Black Caviar Lightning.
Pride once claimed Terravista to be the best sprinter in the world but the six year old has only one Group 1 win to his credit after racing eight times to the elite level.
The Captain Rio gelding was able to beat super sprinters Chautauqua and Lankan Rupee when he claimed the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
But Terravista has been a consistent performer over the last twelve months with two Group 1 thirds during the 2015 Autumn Carnival in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington behind Brazen Beau and in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick behind Chautauqua.
Terravista was also amongst the Group 1 prizemoney during the 2015 Spring Carnival with a third to Delectation in the Darley Classic which came two runs after he won the Group 2 $300,000 G1X.com.au Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Younger half brother Ball Of Muscle is also quickly establising himself as a top line sprinter after winning the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions QTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and then never missed a place from four runs in the Spring with his best effort being a second to Buffering in the Group 1 $450,000 City Jeep Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 2.
Ball Of Muscle’s other Spring Carnival placings were a third in the Group 3 $125,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) and a second in the Group 2 $200,000 The Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m), both at Randwick, and a third to Lumosty in the Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah Single Origin Teas Caulfield Sprint (1000m) at Caulfield.
Ball Of Muscle is also scheduled to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on February 8.
