Trainer Norm Hilton believes emerging talent Carry Me Bluey can plant the seed for a long-range Sydney autumn campaign at Doomben on Saturday.
Carry Me Bluey will be chasing a hat-trick of wins when the four-year-old returns from a seven-week break in the Simon George And Sons Plate (1200m).
Carry Me Bluey, who will again be ridden by Kristy Banks, had three weeks out in the paddock following his impressive last-start win over 1615 metres at Doomben on September 17.
“It was a good win considering he had to do it at both ends,” Hilton said.
“He went to the front and kicked on strongly and ran good time.
“I put him out for three weeks straight after the race with the intention of coming back for the Keith Noud Quality in another three weeks.
“However, he’s feeling so good I was afraid he might hurt someone on the track so I’ve decided to run him now and I think he’ll go very well.”
Carry Me Bluey is lucky to be racing after being hurt as a yearling.
The son of Carry The Flag was on Warwick grain farmer Leo Roche’s property when he ran into a wire fence and suffered a gaping gash to his off-knee.
It was only through Roche’s tender care treating the injury that enabled Carry Me Bluey to make a full recovery.
Roche’s reward for caring for Carry Me Bluey was a half-share in the gelding from owner-breeder Bruce Reilly.
Hilton is aiming Carry Me Bluey for all three legs of the Doomben summer series which begins next month with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m).
“I’ve deliberately kept him fresh for the 1200 metres on Saturday and he hasn’t had a barrier trial or even a jumpout,” Hilton said.
“If he comes through the summer series well I’m hoping to take him to Sydney next year with Bold Glance along with a couple of two-year-olds for the Golden Slipper.”
Hilton has an unnamed Not A Single Doubt two-year-old he believes can qualify for the Golden Slipper along with Exceed And Excel filly, Time To Excel, who was only recently named.
“I think both of them are pretty good so I’ve nominated them for the Golden Slipper,” he said.
“Bold Glance is coming along well and will come back into work at the end of November.”
Bold Glance had minor knee surgery to remove small bone chips in his front legs following his ninth to Sincero in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.
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