Matt Cumani has seen enough to be hopeful two-year-old True Serendipity can make a strong showing on debut at Moonee Valley, even though the trainer admits it’s difficult to assess just how the colt will measure up in the lucrative Inglis Banner.
True Serendipity has his first start in Saturday’s $500,000 race over 1000m for juveniles on the undercard to the Cox Plate.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Cumani said.
“Right from day one he’s looked strong and precocious and tough. And he’s done everything right in his trials.
“His first trial he still looked a little bit woolly and raw and his second trial he’d really flourished.”
True Serendipity finished second in his first official barrier trial at Cranbourne last month before running home under little pressure to win his second this month at the same track by 1-1/4 lengths in a five-horse heat.
“The only disappointment I had was that second trial looked possibly a bit weak, so it was difficult to get a line on him,” Cumani said.
“I’ve got two or three two-year-olds that are ready at this time of year so it’s very difficult for me to get a line and I rely on those trials to do that.
“And when that second one comes up a little bit weak, you kind of don’t know where you’re at.”
Cumani took True Serendipity to the Valley for a familiarisation gallop on Tuesday.
“He’s the most beautifully sensible horse,” he said.
“He’s certainly right and ready for the race and it just depends on if he’s good enough.”
True Serendipity was on the fourth line of betting on Friday at $6.50 with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly Espaaniyah the $4 favourite.
Waterhouse and Bott won last year’s Inglis Banner with Setsuna.
