Shane Oxlade says he can’t fault Sghirripa ahead of the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Group 3 winner has been given a let up since a disappointing three-run campaign in Melbourne over the latter part of the Spring and will look to target feature sprints in his home state over the Summer and Autumn.
Oxlade, who trains in partnership with daughter Cassie, said he couldn’t find an excuse for Sghirippa’s plain form over the Spring and hopes it was just a case of not coming up.
“He certainly disappointed, there’s no doubt about that,” Oxlade said.
“I just don’t think he was interested, to be honest.
“So he’s been home and had a freshen up, had a jump out, and he’s jumped out really well.
“But I couldn’t fault him going into the other runs, I was really happy with him going into the other runs, I had no issues with him, sometimes you wish you had an excuse.”
Always a sharp trialler, Sghirripa led throughout in a 900m heat at Strathalbyn on January 15th ahead of fellow Durbridge contender Prairie Flower, and Oxlade is hoping to target the upcoming feature sprints in Adelaide.
“We’ve got the carnival at home,” Oxlade said.
“There are races over the border that are always there, but his ratings come back a little bit now, so he’s sort of got this one at home, and then in a month’s time you’ve got the City Of Marion.
“And by then you’re starting to run into our carnival, the Irwin Stakes, the D C McKay and then into The Goodwood.
“From my point of view, it’s about getting him back to racing like I know he can and winning, that’s the main thing.
Having won the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) dominantly two years ago, Oxlade knows the talent is there and is hoping a good freshen up can see Sghirripa put together a string of improved performances.
“He’s raced well with good gaps between runs before,” Oxlade said.
“I’m really happy with him. The horse himself is in a good place, he’s happy, so I guess we’ll know more on Saturday where he is mentally.”
Sghirripa is rated a $7.50 chance for the Durbridge Stakes with Campbell Rawiller to ride from barrier seven.
