A Listed race at Caloundra on Sunday could have a major bearing on Ready To Rip’s winter carnival prospects.
Trainer Andrew Williamson has booked a spell for Ready To Rip after the four-year-old tackles the $100,000 Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) at Caloundra on Sunday.
The son of More Than Ready is also nominated for a 1350m Open Handicap at Doomben on Saturday but will miss the race in favour of a start on his home track.
The Cup was to be run at Caloundra last Friday night but was washed out and added to Sunday’s program along with the $150,000 QTIS Two-year-old Plate (1200m).
Williamson has pencilled in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June as the prime target for Ready To Rip who finished a disappointing eighth to Spirit Of Boom in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Craig Williams rode Ready To Rip in the Magic Millions Cup and said the run was better than it looked.
“Craig said to forget the Magic Millions run,” Williamson said.
“He wouldn’t stretch out on the hard track and he wasn’t the only one.”
Trainer Liam Birchley was also critical of the hard Gold Coast track that day after Paprika finished fourth in the Magic Millions Sprint (1000m) won by Schiffer.
Birchley claimed the track conditions disadvantaged 95 per cent of runners on the day.
Williamson has endured a frustrating summer with Ready To Rip who had a win and two placings from his previous five starts.
He showed great promise last winter but failed in the Listed Keith Noud Quality at Eagle Farm and Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben before showing a glimpse of his best when runner-up to My Destiny in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Christmas Eve.
“He’s been a little frustrating but hopefully we can finish off a winner on Sunday,” Williamson said.
“If the track at Caloundra gets back to slow after the rain we’ve had he’ll be hard to beat and then he can go for a spell.”
Williamson’s concern is improving Ready To Rip’s rating ahead of his winter campaign.
“I’ve got to get his rating up for the winter races,” he said.
“He’s on 91 at the moment and I’ve love it to be higher so he can get into the Stradbroke.”
Ready To Rip scored a dominant win in the Mick Dittman Plate at Eagle Farm last April but failed to get into last year’s Stradbroke after finishing 5th in the Group Three BTC Classic at Doomben and fourth in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm.
AAP TURF
