Gold Coast sprinter Startsmeup has figured in a shock stable switch and will launch his summer campaign under new trainer Gillian Heinrich in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Startsmeup was transferred from his former trainer Bruce Hill shortly after returning home from a three-start campaign in Sydney during the spring.
Hill was reluctant to reveal the reasons for losing the four-year-old who finished third in the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm in August before his second in the Group Three Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in mid-September.
“I got a phone call one day from one of the owners and he said the horse would be picked up and would be going to another trainer,” Hill said.
“He was my best horse but I’ll find another.
“I trained him from the very first day of his career but I won’t lose any sleep because he’s gone.”
Hill had planned to aim Startsmeup for the first two legs of the Doomben summer series, the George Moore Stakes and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) later this month before the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Startsmeup has earned more than $400,000 in prizemoney from three wins and 10 placings during his 20-start career.
Meanwhile, trainer Peter Snowden said topweight Rarefied would bypass the George Moore and be reserved for the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday week.
Rarefied has campaigned in three states at his past three starts and Queensland would have been his fourth in as many starts had he ventured north.
Rarefied finished second in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot at the Perth carnival last month.
The Commands five-year-old was previously runner-up in the Group Two Salinger Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day and also second in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Randwick when resuming after a long break on October 15.
Rarefied received topweight of 58 kilograms for the George Moore when weights were released on Tuesday.
Essington, who received 57.5kg, is a definite starter after his trainer Darryl Hansen was granted a further stay of proceedings on Tuesday against a six-month disqualification on positive swabs charges.
Hansen recently lost his appeal to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) but is taking legal action and applied for a further stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the next appeal.
Stewards entered their submissions on why Hansen’s request for a stay should be denied but QCAT ruled in the trainer’s favour to allow him to continue training.
“I’m rapt with the decision and I’ve freshened up Essington for this race,” Hansen said.
Essington was tardy out of the barriers when the five-year-old resumed with an eye-catching third to Listen Son in last month’s Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
AAP TURF
