The Banjo Paterson Final is the off-season goal for the in-form Cooldini but trainer Robert Smerdon is also keen to test the three-year-old over the jumps before the end of the season.
Cooldini is out to make it a hat-trick of wins in Saturday’s heat of the Banjo Paterson Series (2520m) at Flemington.
The $100,000 Banjo Paterson Final (2600m) two weeks later is the winter aim but Smerdon said a start over the jumps later in the campaign is also being considered.
“It would be up to the owners but if the opportunity presented itself I wouldn’t mind him having a run over them (jumps) this year because it could be another string to his bow for the future,” Smerdon said.
Cooldini trialled over the jumps before he won by 12 lengths on the flat in a midweek 2400m race on heavy ground at Sandown last month.
He then contested a hurdle trial at Werribee three days before scoring another comfortable win over 2500m at Flemington on June 8.
Smerdon can see no reason why the three-year-old can’t maintain his strong winter form against the older horses with Chad Schofield in the saddle again.
“He’s in good order and had a good fortnight since his last run so hopefully he can continue his good form,” Smerdon said.
“He still gets in well at the weights. He’s only a three-year-old but he’s still on the minimum.
“He’s a progressive staying horse, one of those horses that just keeps getting better.”
Cooldini faces a field of 13 and will be joined by stablemate Kirribilli Gold who won a Warrnambool Steeplechase last week.
The mare, who Smerdon said had “the most resilient constitution”, is headed to the Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool on Sunday week.
“She’s going to the Thackeray so we need to keep the miles in her legs,” Smerdon said.
