Talented sprinter Drenalin could bypass the Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra on Saturday in favour of a surprise trip to Sydney for the Civic Stakes at Rosehill.
Trainer James Lyons will nominate Drenalin for the Listed races at both venues and will leave a decision on where the five-year-old starts until as late as possible.
Lyons believes the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) is a race best suited to horses on the way up which fits in well for Drenalin who has started only twice this campaign.
“I think the Glasshouse is a race for horses on the way up like Drenalin but I’ve decided to nominate him for the Civic Stakes as well,” Lyons said.
“They are both 1400 metre races but there’s also the (Listed) Winter Championship coming up at Rosehill at the end of July.
“They’re both nice races for Drenalin but I’ll wait and look at the nominations first before I make any firm decision.”
Lyons was delighted with Drenalin’s last start third to Adnocon in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 18.
The five-year-old loomed up and hit the front in the straight before his run petered out close to the line and he went under by half a length.
“He’s come out of the race very well and he’s certainly a lot fitter,” Lyons said.
“I thought he had the Eye liner won on the corner when he cantered to the front.
“He popped out three wide at the 600 metres and was travelling easy but he just died on his run.”
Lyons is yet to decide on a jockey for Drenalin but regular rider Brad Stewart is favoured to retain the mount, especially if he heads south.
“Brad is the obvious choice at this stage but no booking will be made until I decide where he’s running,” Lyons said.
Drenalin has already won black-type after claiming last year’s Listed Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast.
Lyons is a Brisbane real estate salesman and has only two horses in work at Deagon on Brisbane’s northern outskirts.
A nephew of former champion jockey Peter Cook, Lyons is keen to test Drenalin over further ground in the future.
“I took him to Melbourne last spring and Glen Boss told me he was crying out for a mile,” he said.
Lyons wants to head back to Melbourne this spring with the son of Monashee Mountain following his successful trip last year.
Drenalin started three times in Melbourne and showed he could handle the reverse direction leading all the way over 1400 metres at Caulfield in September.
Lyons worked for 18 months as a pre-trainer for Vinery Stud in Victoria and was also an assistant trainer to John Sadler.
He also worked for Lloyd Williams for two years before returning to Queensland to open a real estate franchise.
AAP TURF
