Trainer Kelso Wood has sounded an ominous warning to Sizzling’s rivals in the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
“He’s definitely improved since his win in the Champagne Classic and his work has been outstanding,” Wood said.
“I know some of the others have also improved but they need to.”
Wood is also not concerned with the mind games emerging from some of his rival trainers in the 1400-metre feature.
“I’m not at all worried if there’s no speed on up front,” Wood said.
“There wasn’t much pace in the Champagne and he came home strongly to win impressively.
“There’s been a bit of talk that his win that day wasn’t that impressive but that’s all rubbish.
“If they go slow up front I’ll be happy to see Sizzling box seat. Chris Munce is too smart and won’t let the pace of the race ruin things.
“It’s not a 1200-metre race, it’s 1400 metres so he should race a little closer anyway.”
Wood believes Darley’s Academus will again prove the hardest to beat.
“Academus will probably improve from his last run but he’s one of those that needs to if he’s to beat us,” he said.
Wood is confident Sizzling can maintain his unbeaten record this campaign ahead of his main mission in the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
Wood rarely ventures out of Queensland with his small team but believes Sizzling will prove an ideal type for the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
Wood hasn’t been to Victoria since he took his former star Zero Rock’s mother Broc `n’ Roll south in 2000.
“I took Broc `n’ Roll to Victoria but she only had the two starts before I brought her straight back home,” he said,
“She ran third at Caulfield for Mike Pelling and Brett Prebble won a barrier trial on her at Cranbourne before she ran her last race down there in the Moet & Chandon.
“The last thing I told Brett was I didn’t want to see her lead and she did.
“I brought her straight home after that run and she won at Doomben but she bowed a tendon and never raced again.”
Academus’ trainer Peter Snowden has a high regard for Sizzling but is hopeful his youngster can turn the tables in the Sires’.
“He (Sizzling) is worthy opposition and is probably the best two-year-old in Brisbane,” Snowden said.
“He too has got a good turn of foot. He only beat us narrowly the other day and this fella (Academus) is still learning but I’m happy with him, he’s going well.
“He’s just drawn a little bit awkward in barrier nine of nine but I’m happy with the way he’s going
“The only negative is his awkward barrier.”
