The presence of some of the country’s best weight-for-age sprinters in Sydney and Melbourne has prompted a belated change of plans for Deploy who has been sent north in search of a confidence-boosting win.
The only option for the seven-year-old at Randwick on Saturday was the Premiere Stakes (1200m) which would have meant a clash with top sprinters Classique Legend, Brutal and Osborne Bulls.
Trainer Gerald Ryan considered the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington but with two Everest slot holders engaged, that option appeared no easier, leading Ryan to change tack and send him to Brisbane for Saturday’s Gallopers Sports Club Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
“We’re aiming him towards the Redzel and he can’t go too long between runs,” Ryan said.
“There was nothing here for him unless I ran him in the weight-for-age race tomorrow.
“We did have him entered in Melbourne as well but when Santa Ana Lane and Sunlight stayed there I switched direction and went north instead.”
Deploy has performed well in Queensland before and boasts an exceptional form reference, resuming with a fifth to Arcadia Queen at Group Two level.
Ryan has booked apprentice Nick Keal and Deploy will carry 59.5kg after his claim as he searches for his first win since the 2017 Theo Marks Stakes.
“He’s in this race well enough after the claim but he hasn’t won for over two years so you’d just like to see them go around and find some form,” Ryan said.
“He probably just needed that run and I do know he’s improved heaps off his first up run, his track work has anyway, his coat has come through and he looks well.”
The $1 million Redzel Stakes (1300m) is at Randwick on November 2.
Deploy will have five rivals on Saturday including smart mare Baccarat Baby who has not raced since taking out the Sunshine Coast Guineas in June.
Eagle Farm will also host the first two-year-old races of the Brisbane metropolitan season with Lady Grazier, a half sister to Gloaming Stakes winner Shadow Hero, set to make her debut for trainer Tony Gollan.
The Not A Single Doubt filly was a $550,000 Magic Millions purchase and won a recent barrier trial.
