Decision Time will move a race closer to a possible clash with Black Caviar if he continues on his winning way at Rosehill.
The Clarry Conners-trained sprinter hasn’t been beaten in more than a year, notching four wins spaced across three preparations since his fourth in the 2010 Golden Rose.
Saturday’s Group Two The Shorts (1200m) is the next step in Decision Time’s program aimed at a feature Melbourne sprint and he has been installed the $3.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
“He might stay in Sydney after this week’s race and go to the Premiere Stakes (on October 1) or he could head to Melbourne and run in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington (on October 2),” Conners said.
“The Gilgai is worth more money (than the Premiere), but his main aim is the Patinack Farm Classic.”
Running in the Gilgai would give Decision Time experience down the Flemington straight six ahead of the Patinack Farm Classic.
The Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at weight-for-age, expected to feature Black Caviar, is on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival in November.
Decision Time has so far only raced in two Group One races, finishing second to Crystal Lily in the 2010 Golden Slipper and fourth in Toorak Toff’s Golden Rose.
The gelding won two stakes races after the Golden Rose defeat last spring but was forced out for three months when he bled during his victory in the Stan Fox Stakes.
He returned with a gutsy autumn win in the Fireball Quality under 60.5kg but shoulder troubles and feet issues kept him out of action for another six months.
Conners was nervous ahead of the Concorde (1100m) on September 3 but once again Decision Time’s tradesmanlike qualities came to the fore as he got the job done, defeating Winter King.
“He’s come through that first-up run really nicely, I’m very happy with him,” Conners said.
“He worked over 1000 metres on the course proper (on Tuesday morning at Warwick Farm) and it was very nice work.
“It’s a similar race again on Saturday but I think the conditions suit him a bit better. It was a Quality the other day and he carried 58 kilos, but he drops to 56.5 with the set weights and penalties.”
The Shorts has attracted a final field of 11 including Group One-winning sprinters Danleigh and Albert The Fat.
AAP TURF
