Michael Templeton is looking for a good ride from Craig Newitt on recent stable acquisition Amber Grey to make up for an unlucky last-start defeat on the import when he runs at Sandown.
Amber Grey, topweight in on Wednesday’s Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1800m) was purchased for $50,000 by stable clients of Templeton’s after the horse was advertised on the Macedon Lodge website.
“It was probably enough money for a horse that has won only won race,” Templeton said.
“But from what we’ve seen of him, he’s only had two starts for us for two seconds and it looks like they’ll get that money back at this stage.
The five-year-old is one of several Irish gallopers purchased by Lloyd Williams.
The entire had won a Leopardstown 2000m maiden at his third start in August 2010 before heading to Australia where he failed to run a place in three starts under trainer Robert Hickmott.
At his first run for Templeton, based at Trafalgar near Moe in West Gippsland, Amber Grey was runner-up to Tube in the Burrumbeet Cup (1800m) on New Year’s Day.
He backed up a week later and ran second to in-form veteran Scenic Scene in a rating 72 Hcp (1850m) at Kyneton.
“He’s shown us encouraging signs he’s going to be a nice stayer and it was pleasing to see how he reacted the other day at Kyneton after getting shuffled back to last,” Templeton said.
“He hit the line really strongly so that was really pleasing I thought.
“I dare say Froggy (Newitt) would even admit he got caught napping but we’ve given him another chance because he’s a top-class jockey and he’ll repay us on Wednesday hopefully.”
Templeton prepared the handy stayer Family Bliss to win six races from 2009 to 2010 – twice at Moonee Valley, including the $100,000 Night Racing Stayers Challenge Final (3000m), once at Sandown and a St Arnaud Cup.
Among Amber Grey’s opposition on Wednesday are the Pat Carey-trained Ruse De Guerre and the in-form Hot Power.
Ruse De Guerre showed potential as a three-year-old running third to Kidnapped in the 2009 Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington
However he has managed just one win since, in an Eagle Farm Class 5 Hcp (1500m) last June to add to his Bendigo maiden (1400m) win as a three-year-old, from 22 starts.
Steven Arnold has been engaged for the No Excuses Needed five-year-old.
The Udyta Clarke-trained Hot Power is after a hat-trick following wins over 1600m at Cranbourne and 1700m at Geelong.
Michael Rodd, who rode the Kempinsky four-year-old for the first time last start to win a Showcase rating 68 race at Geelong, retains the mount.
AAP TURF
