Jason Attard, chasing a second home track feature, has given Kellyville Flyer the “green light” to line up in tomorrow’s $200,000 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup. All he has to do now is find a jockey for her at the limit weight (53kg).
Through a riding mix-up, Attard missed out on getting Jay Ford (booked for rival Famous Seamus) to partner last start Royal Randwick winner Kellyville Flyer in the 1600m Group 3 – the same race he won two years ago with her younger brother Sons Of John.
Attard was uncertain about running his mare in the Cup on a firmer surface as she is very effective on wet ground. However, a track gallop at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning convinced him to go ahead.
“My wife Lucy rode Kellyville Flyer, and was very pleased with her,” Attard said. “The course proper has an excellent coverage of grass, and as a result there should be a bit of ‘give’ in the track. Kellyville Flyer is in great order, and though we would have preferred a wet track, I’m sure she can perform quite well.”
Attard, enjoying the best season of his training career, also has second emergency Reiby The Red in the Cup and also will run him if he secures a start: “I rode him work on Tuesday morning with Kellyville Flyer and he is feeling enormous,” he said.
Attard has gained a start with first emergency Reiby Rampart (Josh Parr) in the $175,000 Group 3 Godolphin Crown (1300m) – ironically at the expense of Famous Seamus’ stablemate Unequivocal. Reiby Rampart has won two of her last four starts, and her trainer rates her a “Top 4” chance.
Reiby Rampart finished ninth to Maryore in the $400,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 8, and Attard believes she will be better suited on a firmer surface tomorrow: “Josh (Parr) rode the mare when she won her first race at home last August, and she races well for him,” Attard said.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Garry White will have his first Blacktown Workers Club Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) runner in six years when Generalissimo (Blake Shinn) contests the $200,000 Group 3 event. And Generalissimo will be nowhere near the longshot odds of White’s last two representatives.
Color Purple started at $101 when sixth to Neeson in the 2010 edition, and Shadow Card was at $71 when last of 12 runners in Pimpala Secret’s 2011 Guineas. White would dearly love to win the Guineas with last start Randwick winner Generalissimo.
The rail is in the TRUE position, and the track this morning was rated a “Good 4”, with a penetrometer reading of 4.
Gates will open at 10.30am.
SELECTIONS: RACE 1: MORTAR PLATOON, Lookin’ At You, Eerised. RACE 2: TANGLED, Serena Bay, Fifth Affair. RACE 3: RUTHLESS AGENT, Loves A Hassle, Moss My Name. RACE 4: FELINES, That’s A Good Idea, Straturbo. RACE 5: LANCIATO, Astara, Encosta Line. RACE 6: ARTISTRY, Daysee Doom, Sweet Redemption. RACE 7: CALANDA, Spright, Generealissimo. RACE 8: FABRIZIO, Havana Cooler, Pajaro. RACE 9: BERETTA, So Willie, Ancient History. SPECIALS: RUTHLESS AGENT, ARTISTRY, CALANDA