By Ray Hickson
Rosehill over 1100m on a five day back up from a trial or Randwick over 1300m a week later.
Come scratching time on Saturday, trainer Bjorn Baker will have given plenty of thought to which of those two races suit the talented Redouble for his second run this preparation.
Redouble was an early firmer from $8 into $6 with TAB in the Sydney’s West App Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill which was rated Soft 7 on Thursday.
“We’re trying to pick and choose the better tracks at the moment. If it’s any worse we may wait,’’ Baker said.
The gelding resumed over the same course on June 16 and his eye-catching fourth saw him highlighted as the Punters Intel Sectional Star from the meeting, running the fastest last 600m of the day in 34.20.
Redouble's strong trial win at Rosehill on Monday
Baker then sent him back to the trials earlier this week and he posted an impressive win over 910m.
“His first-up run was excellent, it’s a tough race but I think he has come back well,’’ he said.
“It was a good run from an awkward gate, he’s a good horse on his day and he’s definitely up to that level.
“He raced well last time with trials in between and it’s something we’ve kept consistent.’’
Redouble was beaten second-up last preparation but he did suffer cardiac arrhythmia then bounced back to win his next two starts at 1300m and 1400m.
Baker said he believes 1200m-1400m is probably Redouble’s best trip and that will come into this thinking when decision time arrives for Saturday’s race.
Meanwhile, Baker said blueblooded youngster Nordicus is likely to make his debut at Canterbury next Wednesday.
The son of champions (It’s A) Dundeel and Miss Finland scored an easy win in a 910m trial at Rosehill on Monday, in faster time than Redouble, and has been pencilled in for a 1250m two-year-old maiden.
“He’s come through the trial well so it’s more than likely we’ll go to Canterbury,’’ Baker said.
“He has trialled well, he’s shown a fair bit of ability so if he runs up that we’ll be sweet.’’
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Rosehill Gardens