When it comes to training racehorses, Chris Calthorpe is a relative newcomer.
But as the proprietor of Air Horse Transport he is well acquainted with some of the best of recent times having flown them from one side of the country to the other.
Ironically, his Inglis Classic contender Armageddon On It travelled from Victoria to Sydney for Saturday’s Randwick race by road.
“The curfew at Sydney airport makes it hard,” Calthorpe said. “If something happens and you are late taking off then that can throw the whole thing out.
“I decided to put him on the float and he travelled up with no problems and has settled in well.”
Kathy O’Hara will replace the injured Peter Robl aboard Armageddon On It as the colt strives to live up to the potential Calthorpe and his part-owner and breeder Aaron Bott know he has.
“His form should read better than it does. I think he should have finished a couple of lengths closer to the good colt last start,” Calthorpe said.
Armageddon On It didn’t get the best of starts when he ran last of nine on debut on December 14 in a race won by I Am The General and ran wide during his 5-3/4 lengths sixth behind Chivalry at Moonee Valley two weeks later.
Saturday’s $250,000 Inglis Classic is restricted to yearlings catalogued for the 2013 Classic sale.
Armageddon On It was passed in but Bott asked Calthorpe if he would like to buy into him and train the colt.
“I’ve always owned horses but I’d only had my licence a couple of months when Aaron asked me to train the colt,” Calthorpe said.
“Armageddon On It came to me in the middle of the year having been broken in at Aaron’s property and he has been a pleasure ever since.
“I really enjoy training but I’m glad I’m not doing it to survive. Having the other business means I’m not relying on training horses to feed my kids.”
Calthorpe has a team of 12 at Geelong but will be on the look out at this year’s Classic Sale which starts on Sunday.
Fellow Victorian visitor Boomwaa is the Inglis Classic favourite ahead of New Zealander Vinnie Eagle.
