Ambidexter has been competitive with the best of his generation and at Randwick on Saturday he will get the chance to round out his autumn on a winning note.
The colt has not tasted victory this preparation but he has finished fourth at his past two starts in Group One company in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas, beaten less than a length each time.
Trainer Peter Snowden elected not to press on to the Australian Derby (2400m), instead aiming Ambidexter towards Saturday’s Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m).
“I found he doesn’t run past 2000, that’s as far as he goes. For mine, I didn’t think he was a Derby horse,” Snowden said.
“His last two runs have been excellent. They’re two of the best races around, the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas and he got beaten three-quarters of a length in both of them.
“It just took a bit out of him the Rosehill Guineas so I freshened him with this race in mind.”
Ambidexter has drawn barrier eight for the Frank Packer Plate which has attracted a field of 10 including Rekindled Alliance who is coming off a fifth to Ethiopia in the Derby.
Snowden said Saturday’s race would be Ambidexter’s final run this campaign, ruling out a trip to Brisbane.
The Darley trainer instead has his sights set on the spring.
He believes the colt only has to improve marginally in his four-year-old year to bump himself up the ranks.
“He won’t go to Brisbane, he will spell after this and get ready for the spring,” Snowden said.
“He showed he’s only three-quarters of a length behind the best around so he’s only got to improve a length and it puts him right up there among the better chances as a four-year-old.”
Gai Waterhouse has taken all before her this autumn and will have two Frank Packer Plate runners in Fat Al and Just The Tonic while Patinack Farm will be represented by Isopach.
