Clinton McDonald is still to decide if the in-form Forty Thirty will make the trip to Sydney this weekend but either way the Victorian trainer plans to be a more regular visitor.
Forty Thirty has been paid up for both the Fujitsu Air Conditioning Handicap (1600m) at Flemington and the Myer Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.
“I might even scratch him from both and wait for next week,” McDonald said.
“I will be dictated by the weather.
“Flemington is a dead five and it does dry out quickly while they’re forecasting showers for Sydney which is a slow seven.”
The softer the better for Forty Thirty.
He has never finished further back than second in six starts on heavy tracks, a statistic not lost on his trainer.
“He’s very effective on heavy ground,” McDonald said.
“It makes a big difference to the horse, he virtually goes on it like he’s on top of the ground.”
McDonald has never been afraid to send his horses up to Sydney and won a midweek race at Canterbury with Umatain on July 11.
But he admits the prizemoney increases which took effect in NSW on July 1 will make the trip even more attractive.
“Definitely. Umatain won there last week at Canterbury and he will run there again or at Wyong next week,” McDonald said.
“It’s only eight hours up the road. You can really leave the day before the race if you have to and I’ve got a good base at Rosehill where I stay with either Steve Wilson or Tim Martin.”
AAP TURF mc/
