The much-hyped Bossdon City didn’t live up to expectations in the autumn and trainer Brett Cavanough is a little more cautious ahead of the spring.
The two-year-old comes to Randwick on Saturday for his first test at 1200 metres after a first-up fourth at Flemington which pleased Cavanough.
After a 10-length barrier trial win at Wangaratta and a debut win at Rosehill in January, Bossdon City was touted as a leading Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper prospect.
He didn’t make it to either race and Cavanough is setting his sights a little lower.
“We’ll be staying away from the super stars this time,” the Albury-based Cavanough said.
“I may have overcooked him early on but I’m happy with how he has improved.
“I took him to Flemington to familiarise him with the straight course ahead of the spring and hopefully he makes it that far.
“I thought he handled it pretty well and I was happy with the way he settled. I thought it was a huge run.”
There were 20 entries for the two-year-old race which has a field limit of 14.
Bossdon City will be ridden by apprentice Blake Spriggs who Cavanough also rates highly.
He does however have concerns for many other apprentices who he believes are not receiving all the guidance they need.
Cavanough expressed his views on Sydney radio on Monday during a discussion on several unsavoury incidents Sydney apprentices have been involved in recently while off duty.
While Racing NSW stepped in to counsel metropolitan and provincial riders at a recent forum, Cavanough said country apprentices were being neglected in terms of education about the racing industry.
“There isn’t anything for the kids down here and they need more help,” he said.
“There are four people looking after them at Racing NSW and they can’t spread themselves around.”
Cavanough is also bringing former Darley horse and last-start Albury winner Sleepers to Randwick for a Benchmark 80 over 1200 metres.
Sleepers won three races in Melbourne in the care of Lee Freedman before being sold.
“He is coming along for the trip and we will see how he measures up,” Cavanough said.
There were 10 entries for the 1800m open handicap on program including Frozone, a recent winner of the Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm.
But any sign of a wet track means trainer Alan Bailey will keep him at home in Brisbane.
“If it rains he won’t be going,” Bailey said.
“He’s hopeless in the wet.”
Sydney is expecting cold, sunny, windy conditions for the rest of the week.
AAP TURF
