Trainer Rod Craig is confident a long campaign has yet to take its toll on last-start winner Circle Of Power who’ll chase more success at Randwick.
Circle Of Power is entered for Wednesday’s Beaconsfield Handicap (1550m) on the Kensington track and Craig prefers that option over a 3YO Benchmark 75 (1600m) on the Randwick course proper Saturday when the gelding has 59.5kg.
“I’m looking towards running him tomorrow (Wednesday), I’d rather run him on the course proper but he’s going to have too much weight on Saturday,” Craig said.
Circle Of Power will be lining up for his 10th run of the campaign which began with a third on the Kensington track at the start of March.
The three-year-old scored his second victory of the preparation when he reeled in Planetarium and Coup Ay Tee over 1500m at Rosehill on June 18.
“He pulled up really well from his last-start win. You wouldn’t know he went around actually,” Craig said.
“He’s been up a long time but I don’t do too much with him between runs, I just keep him fresh and he seems to enjoy that.
“I’ll probably look to give him one more after this while the BOBS bonuses are still available to him and then look to give him a break.”
Craig believes jockey Chris O’Brien, who’ll be in the saddle again on Wednesday, may have found the key to Circle Of Power at Rosehill when he was able to get the gelding to settle just worse than midfield and then unleash a sprint in the straight.
“It was the first time he had really been ridden the way I’ve wanted him to be ridden,” Craig said.
“It hasn’t been the fault of the other riders, it’s just that he can be a bit of a hard-going horse.
“Chris just let him fall out of the gates last time and had him where he was comfortable with cover and he finished the race off strongly.”
Circle Of Power has been installed the $4.60 equal favourite for Wednesday’s event alongside last-start winner Chameleon.
Craig said there was no reason not to expect another honest showing from his charge.
“When horses are running consistently like him, the only way he’ll tell us if he’s had enough is if he turns in a shocker with no excuses,” Craig said.
“But he’s given no indications he’s had enough, he’s as good as what he was before last start.”
AAP TURF
