Golden Rose runner-up Squamosa will trial on Friday ahead of a Brisbane winter campaign aimed at Group One success.
The talented colt hasn’t raced since his second to Toorak Toff in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill in August last year.
The three-year-old was being prepared for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) in January but a setback forced him to miss that race and the autumn carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney.
Squamosa races in the purple and white stars of Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds syndications, and Martin says the colt is on target for his racetrack return.
“He trials on Friday at Canterbury and he is going great guns,” Martin said.
“We’re hoping to find one of the Group Ones in Brisbane for him.”
The Group One options in Brisbane would be the BTC Cup (1200m) and Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at weight-for-age, and the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
However, the BTC Cup on May 14 appears as if it will come around too soon for the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt.
The Doomben 10,000 is on May 28 and the Stradbroke Handicap is two weeks later.
“Whether he goes first-up into a Group One I’m not sure, he trials on Friday and again in two weeks time before he will resume,” Martin said.
Squamosa was set to resume in Sydney at the end of last year before the setback.
“He knocked a fetlock,” Martin said.
“We had in mind the Magic Millions three-year-old race and then to get him ready for Group One sprints, but when he missed the Magic Millions race he needed a little time in the paddock to get over his minor problem and he’s been back in work for some time now.
“He’s returned in great order, he looks a picture and is a more furnished three-year-old.”
The son of Not A Single Doubt burst onto the scene last winter with three straight wins to start his career including the Group Three Run To The Rose (1300m) at Rosehill.
He ended his first racing preparation with a game second in the Golden Rose.
“We’re looking for that Group One win with him,” Martin said.
“A Group One second was great, but we want a Group One win now.”
AAP TURF
