Adelaide trainer Richard Jolly has activated a back-up plan for talented sprinter Stirling Grove who missed this week’s Group Three Standish Handicap with a bellyache.
The four-year-old was favourite for the Monday’s 1200-metre feature at Flemington but will now run in Saturday’s Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
“He was just a little bit off colour the day before the Standish which was probably brought on through the heat,” Jolly said.
“He had a bit of a gut ache which was not too serious but it would have been too much to run him.
“He’s fine now and at least we have another race to fall back on.”
Jolly said missing the Standish may have been a blessing after watching Catapulted win easily by three lengths in near record time.
“The way Catapulted won I don’t know whether he (Stirling Grove) would have beaten him on the day,” Jolly said.
“As it has turned out it is only a small field on Saturday and the horse galloped on Wednesday morning and is spot-on.”
Stirling Grove is TAB Sportsbet’s $3 favourite for the eight-horse Doveton ahead of First Command at $4, Second Effort ($5) and Cascabel at $6.
The gelding had a let-up after the spring when he was beaten less than two lengths when eighth to Sister Madly in the Group Two Salinger Stakes before a three-quarter length second to Down Under Boy over 1400 metres at Flemington a week later on November 5.
“He was close up in the Salinger but it was not a great ride and he should have finished closer and then he backed up and only just got beaten,” Jolly said.
He said that missing the Standish had ended plans to run Stirling Grove in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on January 14.
“We will just get over Saturday and revise things and see what the best option will be but in the back of my mind I’d like to have him ready for the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield (on February 25),” Jolly said.
Stirling Grove has won six races including three at Morphettville and two at Flemington but is also a winner and placegetter from his only two runs at Caulfield.
Dean Yendall, who is second in Victoria’s jockeys’ premiership, will ride Stirling Grove for the first time on Saturday.
AAP TURF
