One of the bleakest starts to summer in Sydney in half a century has Melbourne trainer Clinton McDonald serious about a first-up shot in stakes company for superior wet track sprinter Second Effort.
Providing the Villiers Day track at Warwick Farm on Saturday is rain-affected, McDonald will give Second Effort his chance in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).
“At the very least I’ll accept (for the race) and I won’t be unhappy if it keeps raining,” McDonald said.
“The wetter the better. He’s very good on wet tracks.”
Rain and cool conditions are forecast for Sydney for the rest of the week.
Second Effort is unbeaten in six starts in going rated slow or worse.
The five-year-old’s record includes a four-length win on a heavy track at Sandown.
McDonald said Danny Nikolic, who rides the Chris Waller-trained Altered Boy in the Villiers, would continue his association with Second Effort.
Nikolic has ridden Second Effort in three of the sprinter’s six wins.
Second Effort will be stepping out for the first time since finishing down the track in the Bletchingly Stakes in late July.
Going into the weight-for-age race with four successive wins alongside his name, Second Effort managed to beat only one horse home.
“You’ll notice in his form he had about six weeks between runs going into the Bletchingly because of a couple of hiccups,” McDonald said.
“There was nothing serious. He had a boil in his mouth and he whacked his leg but he was left sitting there (in limbo) for a while.”
An extra 100m has been added this year’s Razor Sharp, which McDonald said caught him off guard when he entered Second Effort.
“Originally when I looked at the program it was down as an 1100-metre race,” he said.
“I would have preferred 1100 metres first-up but he’s fit enough and as long as it’s wet I won’t have any concerns.”
Fellow Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh has nominated Rubiton Stakes winner Catapulted for the Razor Sharp with entries for the $100,000 race were extended.
Warwick Farm-trained horses dominated Monday’s entry with Joe Pride leading the way with four horses – News Alert, Recorrido, Tiger Tees and Trilione.
Peter Snowden has entered Winterbottom Stakes placegetter Rarefied as well as Parthian while Gary Portelli has nominated Eight Bills.
AAP TURF
