Trainer Colin Webster is adamant his stable star Trix Of The Trade will relish another step up in trip in today’s J.C. Roberts Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.
The three-year-old is unbeaten at all four starts this campaign, including wins in the Breeders Plate (1400m), Challenge Stakes (1500m) and Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Listed level.
Trix Of The Trade faces his toughest test in tomorrow’s $125,000 feature with 10 rivals lining up against him.
Lex Piper Stakes placegetters Hear Me Sing and Henchard headline Trix Of The Trade’s opposition, as well as progressive galloper Rokanori.
Trix Of The Trade wore down Hear Me Sing and Henchard over the closing stages of the Lex Piper Stakes to score by a half-length, suggesting the 1800m wouldn’t be an issue.
Webster said he wasn’t concerned by the rise in distance.
“We’re very happy with him,” he told TABradio
“He’s come through those runs beautifully.
“I’m pretty confident he will get the 1800.
“The 1800 should be right up his alley the way he’s racing.”
Webster admitted it was “a bit of a question mark” whether Trix Of The Trade would run in the Melvista Stakes (2200m) or WA Derby (2400m) in the next month.
Trix Of The trade has drawn favourably in barrier four and looks poised to get every opportunity with Troy Turner aboard.
Chris Parnham teams up with Henchard from barrier and said he would look to employ similar tactics to what he used in the Lex Piper Stakes.
“We’ve got a good barrier, so we should be able to use that,” he said.
“I imagine I’d sit pretty close to the speed.
“I reckon this horse will get over a bit of ground, so heading towards the Derby he will be a good chance.”
Trix Of The Trade is the $1.80 favourite with TABtouch, ahead of Henchard ($5), Rokanori ($8) and Hear Me Sing ($9).
Constant Dreaming ($2.60) is the TABtouch favourite for the Listed-Natasha Stakes (2200m) for the three-year-old fillies.
