By Ray Hickson
It might seem a big leap from winning a Nowra maiden on a Sunday to eyeing victory at Randwick but the Bjorn Baker stable believes Point And Shoot can achieve that feat on Saturday.
Assistant trainer Luke Hilton said the three-year-old’s maiden win was an opportunistic one as the race offered a $100,000 Inglis bonus to eligible horses of which Point And Shoot was one.
So it meant that particular race was a little stronger than your average country maiden and given his authoritative performance Hilton said the way the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1100m) is falling away the step is not as great as it looks.
“He was quite dominant Point And Shoot down there,’’ he said.
“He enjoyed having a good tempo in the race and once he got to the outside he really let down well and he’s really gone on from that.
“It was a stronger maiden than just a Nowra maiden and I think Majorca Sunset (fourth) franked that form on Thursday, coming to town and being a bit unlucky.”
Point And Shoot opened $15 in early markets and after the field was reduced to six runners was $4 second favourite with TAB on Friday.
Hilton said the gelding showed early on he has his share of talent, he ran third on debut at Rosehill back in April, and the vibe is that he’ll only get better.
“We’ve definitely always had a good opinion of him,’’ he said.
“The Blue Points seem to get better with age and the penny is really starting to drop with him. It was a good confidence booster for him and he’s come on.
“We’ve stayed at 1100m, I think he is a horse that is going to get a little bit further but the way he let down off the good speed the other day Bjorn was keen to stay at 1100m.”
Rachel King rides Point And Shoot and he’ll drop 5.5kg on his last start win.
A weight rise and a tricky barrier will make promising filly O’ Ole’s task a bit tougher in the Petaluma Handicap (1100m) but Hilton said she has to top off her Magic Millions preparation.
The youngster was a strong winner of the Wyong Magic Millions after absorbing some early speed and, like Point And Shoot, has been aided by some early withdrawals.
“She’s in to (barrier) eight and that will definitely help,’’ he said.
“It doesn’t set up too bad now there are only eight runners, it makes the job a bit easier. She needs to go around to be ready for the Millions.
“She’s got great gate speed, she leaves the machines very well and the first 100m is nice and sharp for her.
“Rachel knows her really well, she galloper her Tuesday and thought she was going as well as ever.”
Last start Randwick winner Disneck will have to overcome a 4.5kg swing against him if he’s to stave off Eye Of The Fire once more in the James Squire Handicap (1200m).
The four-year-old ran some slick sectionals as he picked off the field from last two weeks ago and will be faced with a similar task, though his cause has also been aided by scratchings.
“You don’t have too many options with him’’ Hilton said.
Point And Shoot wins at Nowra on December 15
“You’ve got to put him to sleep and let him rip down the outside so we’ll be going for the same sort of make up.”
Luke Hilton on Passeggiata (race 5): “We’re going to roll. She was good the other day but she wasn’t able to break the field up and get the advantage that she needs. Getting the 1200m is a question mark but it gives her an opportunity to get an advantage on the field and use her speed.”
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting