The Dan O’Sullivan trained Tuscan Fire’s jumping days have been put on hold after the six year old made it back to back Flemington wins on the weekend.
Tuscan Fire might put their jumps career on hold and go to the Adelaide Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The rejuvenated stayer has proven himself on the flat this campaign and may have booked a berth in the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 11 by winning his second race at Flemington this month.
Tuscan Fire had established himself as a hurdler having won twice over the jumps last campaign as well as finishing third to Kirribilli Gold in the $100,000 The Australian Hurdle (3400m) at Sandown on June 2.
But on the recommendations of leading jockey Glen Boss who has been aboard at his last two wins, O’Sullivan is seriously thinking of postponing the jumps and heading to Adelaide for the Cup.
“Bossy doesn’t think we’re aiming too high,” O’Sullivan said.
“There’s still 2014 – we might hold back for a year,” O’Sullivan said.
“He’s still a young horse. It’s nice running around in $100,000 races without 12 hurdles popping up in front of you.”
“Besides, he made a few mistakes over the jumps last season.”
Boss was having his first ride on Tuscan Fire when the gelding led all of the way to take out the $80,000 Byron Moore Handicap (2000m) at Flemington before stepping up to a more suitable 2500m in the $100,000 Rain Lover Handicap last Saturday.
Tuscan Fire was one of Boss’ four winners on the day which also included stablemate British General who scored his third win in a row over the Flemington 1400m.
Boss has shot to a fifteen win lead in the jockey’s premiership while last year’s champion jockey Luke Nolen has been taking a break, but with the help of the powerful Peter Moody stable, Nolen will be trying his hardest to peg back the margin when he returns to riding this week.
But Boss, who is riding at the peak of his career, might have set up a winning break and could be on target to win his first metropolitan jockey’s title.
