On one hand, trainer Shane Fliedner would have appreciated an easier race than Saturday’s Aquanas Handicap at Moonee Valley for the city debut of his promising galloper Primitive Man.
On the other, he is looking to the quality of his opposition to at least give him a guide to his horse’s future.
Six of the 11 three-year-olds in the Valley race are last-start winners and all have been successful once in their past four runs.
“On paper it’s a very even race,” Fliedner said.
“I think anyone who’s got one in this race has a bit of an opinion of their horse.”
Fliedner includes himself in that group.
“I’m looking forward to getting him back next preparation and getting him out over some more ground,” he said.
“He’s shown a lot of promise, he’s got his share of ability.”
Thanks to the apparent evenness of the field, Primitive Man is at double-figure odds for his first trip to town.
Early markets have the Mick Price-trained Resemblance on top on the strength of a Traralgon 1100m win at his only start when a $1.50 favourite.
But Primitive Man’s only two runs have been no less impressive.
At his first start he ran into the subsequent city winner Miss Softhands at Bendigo, finishing just over three lengths from the winner in fifth place.
At his only subsequent run Primitive Man beat the Peter Snowden-trained Kayak, who ran a heavily-backed favourite, over 1300m, also at Bendigo.
“I think they’ve got a pretty good opinion of the Snowden horse,” Fliedner said.
“So I’d have to say it was a good win.”
Fliedner nevertheless has a couple of concerns, the most serious being the graduation from the comfort of his home track to city racing.
“I’m conscious that he’s only raced at Bendigo,” he said.
“But most of the others are in a similar boat.
“I’m happy to take them on.”
Primitive Man is one of six rides at the Valley for in-form jockey Steven Arnold – each of which has sound prospects.
Arnold also rides the Bart Cummings-trained Goldstone, the favourite for the Mitchelton Wines Handicap, Adios Muchachos who is second favourite for the Late Starter Membership Handicap, General Groove, one of the top chances in the City Jeep Handicap, Girl Gone Rockin in the Adapt Australia Handicap and Rahveel in the Alternate Railway Handicap.
