John Sadler has seized the opportunity to take on a small field with lightly-raced three-year-old Motorised who will be chasing his first career win at Flemington.
Motorised was scratched from last Saturday’s Caulfield program because of a wide barrier and would have missed Saturday’s meeting and run at Terang on Monday had there been many more than 10 acceptors in the Victoria University Handicap (1410m).
“We are giving him his chance,” Sadler said.
“If there had been 14 or 16 runners he would have run at Terang but all being well he will run at Flemington and we will see how he measures up.”
Motorised has shown good promise on city tracks at his only three starts but Sadler is keen for him to learn how to win.
He was fourth at his Moonee Valley debut and second to Pied A Terre at Flemington at his second start before being spelled after finishing sixth to That’s The One at Flemington over 1410 metres in August.
“His first two runs were pretty good, particularly his second run, but I thought he was very disappointing last start,” Sadler said.
“It wasn’t a strong race and we thought he could win.”
While he rates Motorised as a developing 1400-1600 metre horse, Sadler said he would have preferred to have given him a run over a shorter trip before Saturday’s assignment.
“The horse is well but it is a bit of an ask first-up over 1400 metres,” Sadler said.
“He is more of a chance to race forward over the 1400 metres but I would have liked to have got to this distance at his second or third start.
“If he had drawn an alley last week we would have run over 1200 metres but we will see how he goes this week and if he runs a place we will come back to town and if he finishes midfield or worse we will take him to the bush.
“He goes all right and he would win a maiden comfortably.”
Motorised has a good pedigree being by Flying Spur from stakeswinning mare True Blonde who is a half-sister to three-time Group One-winning sprinter Snippets.
Motorised’s sister, Sharp Aunty, won three races and was three-times stakes-placed while his half-brother was dual stakeswinner Regrowth.
AAP TURF
