Garry White is confident of cashing in on a home ground advantage when metropolitan racing ventures to Hawkesbury on Wednesday.
White has Underthetuscansun and Shadow Line entered at the Australian Turf Club meeting at the provincial circuit and the trainer rates the former his leading chance.
“I’m pretty sure that Underthetuscansun will be very hard to beat,” White said.
“He hasn’t gone backwards since his last start win and I think he’s well placed in that race tomorrow.”
With Randwick to undergo a redevelopment, some metropolitan fixtures have been moved to provincial tracks.
Underthetuscansun will be striving for his fifth win on his home track in the ATC Foundation Membership Handicap (1300m) while Shadow Line has two wins and two placings from her four starts there.
White said racing at home was always an advantage and believes both horses are in suitable races.
“Both (Underthetuscansun and Shadow Line) horses have probably done most of their racing there but Underthetuscansun does have a terrific record at home,” White said.
“He’s only missed a place once in 11 starts there and his win the other day was good.”
Underthetuscansun scored by almost two lengths over 1300m at Hawkesbury last start and in-form Chad Schofield retains the ride.
The 17-year-old apprentice is unbeaten in three rides for White at Hawkesbury, and being a city meeting, he is able to claim 3kg off Underthetuscansun’s 58.5kg impost.
“He has won on Shadow Line, Underthetuscansun and Diamond Springs,” White said of Schofield’s unblemished strike-rate for him at the track.
“I think he has knowledge of the horse (Underthetuscansun) now that he’s had a ride on him and he’s drawn a good gate (barrier three) as well so they are all pluses.”
Shadow Line drops back in distance in the WF 100 Club Returns 2012 Handicap (1400m) after finishing third to Haut Normandie over 1600m at Randwick last time out.
“I think the mile was a bit far the other day and the race was not run how we thought it would be,” White said.
“She might have went a bit keen but the winner was too good. She is back against her own sex tomorrow although it’s against older horses.
Underthetuscansun was installed the $3.60 TAB Sportsbet favourite on Tuesday while Shadow Line, a Corey Brown mount, was rated a $6.50 chance in her event with Triple Six the $4.20 favourite.
AAP TURF
