Leading Darwin trainer Stephen Brown says talented sprinter Canali will be making Melbourne his new home after this campaign.
Brown is already searching for stables at Flemington to set up a satellite operation where he can have six horses based year round.
Brown said Canali, who is engaged in Saturday’s Victoria Cup (1100m) at Caulfield, was too good to return to Darwin.
“He’s 99 rated and can’t really go back to Darwin so what we are trying to do is run a satellite stable here,” Brown said.
“I have got some nice horses and good owners who want to buy horses and if I could sub-let six boxes at Flemington that would good.”
Brown’s Victorian summer touring team includes Flemington placegetter Emboldened, Big Bear Rock, and Lloyd Williams-owned horses Below and Bolton.
Brown bought Canali from Bart Cummings in late 2009 and has since won with the five-year-old in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
Canali was pipped in a photo finish when second to Rocking Force in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on November 3 but didn’t handle the wet track at Moonee Valley two weeks ago when he finished eighth.
“Stephen Baster rode him and said he was all at sea and didn’t handle it all so we are forgetting the run,” Brown said.
He said it was shame as Canali’s best runs have often been when second up.
“It looks like it will be third up this time,” Brown quipped.
“I didn’t think he was 100 per cent ready at Flemington and we couldn’t do anything about the track last time but he’s really come on.
“He looks a lot better and is feeling a lot better and he will run one, two or three tomorrow for sure.”
Baster will again ride Canali who is $11 with TAB Sportsbet but it is $15 chance The Solder, another former Northern Territory sprinter, that worries Brown the most.
Canali and The Soldier are both noted for flying the gates and they had a memorable duel in 2010 Palmerston Sprint in Darwin which resulted in both running out of steam with Canali finishing third and The Soldier sixth.
Brown fears it could again develop into a speed duel up front which could threaten Canali’s winning chances.
“The only negative for us could be The Soldier as he is very quick,” Brown said.
He said the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) could be a target for Canali although he is mindful that he has never won beyond 1100 metres.
“In Darwin 1100 metres has always been as far he wanted to go but he prefers the grass tracks and he may get it a bit easier leading in a 1200 metre race down here,” Brown said.
Miss Octopussy was the best backed runner in Saturday’s sprint from $5 to $4.60 and pressing Catapulted ($4.40) for favouritism.
AAP TURF
