Norm Hilton is already thinking beyond the Tattersall’s Mile with last-start Grafton carnival winner Carry Me Bluey.
Carry Me Bluey will be given his chance to post back-to-back wins when he contests the Listed race at Eagle Farm on Saturday but Hilton has designs on the four-year-old making an impact during the Melbourne spring carnival.
“I like taking my horses away and I’m thinking of maybe taking Carry Me Bluey to Victoria this year,” Hilton said.
“For what races, I’m not too sure.”
Toowoomba-based Hilton flies under the carnival radar but his strike-rate in Sydney and Melbourne confirms he knows the type of horse to travel.
He prepared Poor Judge for a Toorak Handicap placing and a Chatham Stakes win during the 2010 Melbourne spring carnival.
Similar results followed during the 2011 Sydney autumn when Bold Glance figured in the Doncaster Mile placings as a $41 chance.
Carry Me Bluey responded to a patient ride from Hilton’s 3kg apprentice Alannah Fancourt to win the $50,000 South Grafton Cup.
Ric McMahon takes over on Saturday but Hilton said riding instructions would be the same.
“He’s a funny sort of horse to ride,” Hilton said. “He jumps with them but then shows no speed.
“He likes to lob along then work home down the outside and I’ll be telling Ric to ride him the same way as Alannah did at Grafton.”
The Tattersall’s Mile has attracted 12 nominations, with last-start Listed winners Adnocon and Belltone to head the weights.
Adnocon is coming off an Ascot Handicap win while Belltone steps up to 1600m for the first time in almost two years after winning the Glasshouse Handicap.
