The recent wet weather in Sydney has forced trainer John O’Shea to overhaul the summer program of talented stayer Legsman.
The winner of the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) in July, Legsman was being aimed at Saturday’s feature Christmas Cup over the same distance at Rosehill.
However, after missing a vital lead up run in last month’s Frank Underwood Cup at Canterbury when he was scratched due to the wet track, O’Shea has decided to change tack.
“I’ll wait and probably hold him back and go to the Tatt’s Cup on New Year’s day and the Gosford Cup,” O’Shea said.
“He’s just on the wrong leg for the Christmas Cup now.”
While Legsman won’t be there, trainer Tim Martin confirmed Scouting Wide would take his place in the Listed event.
Scouting Wide will be chasing his second win in the summer staying feature after leading throughout to claim the Christmas Cup two years ago.
The seven-year-old was an encouraging sixth to Revolt in the Blackwoods MSA Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday when he lumped 62kg and jumped from the outside barrier.
“He had to go back from the wide barrier but he finished off really well,” Martin said.
“The tempo was good and he worked to the line well.”
Apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins, who partnered Scouting Wide at Rosehill, will retain the mount.
By renowned sire of stayers Zabeel, Scouting Wide has been thereabouts in all three starts this campaign, resuming with a handy fifth to Revolt over 1500m in October before a 1-1/2 length fifth to Strike One over 1900m second-up.
Strike One will again be among his Christmas Cup rivals and is likely to be trainer Chris Waller’s sole runner.
Martin believes Scouting Wide is racing as well as ever and has no dramas with him handling a seven-day back up.
He said the gelding had coped well with it before, pointing to his second to Crossthestart in the 2010 Group Two Brisbane Cup.
He also confirmed stablemate Fibrillation would press on to the Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on December 17 following her closing fifth to Monton in the Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
“She is probably looking for 2000 metres now but we will keep her fresh for the Villiers,” Martin said.
AAP TURF
