It will be a big day for South Australian trainer John Hyam if Petman can win Saturday’s Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes at Caulfield.
The 34-year-old is chasing his first stakes win in the Listed 1200m event as well as his first victory in Melbourne.
The Finniss-based trainer brought Petman over for the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Australia Day and he ran a creditable third to Instinction after leading.
Petman was ridden for the first time by Damien Oliver, who gave Hyam a good report on the Lonhro colt and has stuck with him on Saturday.
The three-year-old, a $180,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast, is the dearest horse Hyam has bought.
“I bought him for a bloke who said he’d take half of him but he pulled out,” Hyam said.
“It gave me a few sleepless nights but we ended up getting a good group of people into him and my wife Tina has a share in him as well.”
Hyam, a greenkeeper by trade, used to work as a course curator at Morphettville but became interested in horses and later spent several years as stable foreman for trainer Byron Cozamanis who became his father-in-law.
Petman stayed in Victoria after the Zeditave and is currently stabled with Cozamanis who is now based at Caulfield.
“I sent him down to Cranbourne for three days for a freshen up and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Hyam said.
“He hadn’t eaten up all his feed since he won first-up with 59kg (over 1200m at Morphettville on January 7) until Tuesday.
“It’s taken him a while to get used to his new surroundings.
“At home at Finniss he spends his days in a paddock and at night he’s in a 24-horse barn.”
Petman will wear a tongue tie again on Saturday and winkers for the first time.
He has drawn barrier five in the 11-horse field which includes Victorian Oaks winner Mosheen.
Under the set weights plus penalties conditions, the Robert Smerdon-trained filly will carry equal topweight of 57kg, 1kg more than Petman.
Hyam said Petman, who has won three races and hasn’t been out of a place in five starts, would be freshened up after Saturday before having a crack at the Group Two Yallambee Stud Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day, March 12.
“Then he’ll go for a spell before being prepared for the spring,” he said.
Petman is third pick at $6.50 with TAB Sportsbet behind the David Hayes-trained Rifleman ($4.20 fav), who is after a hat-trick following 1000m wins at Ballarat and Morphettville, and Mosheen at $4.40.
AAP TURF
