A track gallop on Tuesday will determine whether Australian Guineas winner Palentino takes his place in the Doncaster Mile.
The Darren Weir-trained three-year-old will work out with his Doncaster-bound stablemate Stratum Star to determine whether he joins him in Saturday’s $3 million race at Randwick.
Palentino
“He galloped on Thursday with Stratum Star and he’s going to gallop with Stratum Star again on Tuesday and we’ll make a decision then,” Weir said.
Palentino beat Tarzino in the Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 5 before being beaten by Tally in the Alister Clark Stakes over 2040m at Moonee Valley on March 18.
Weir hasn’t been put off running by the presence of Winx in the Doncaster.
“You’ve got to take them on at some stage and there’s prize money to eighth,” Weir said.
“They’re two colts and if they get a placing in the Doncaster it’s good for their CV as stallions.”
If Weir decides to run Palentino, the search will be on for a jockey to ride at 49kg.
Glen Boss was approached but has taken the mount on the Ciaron Maher-trained Azkadellia.
“We’ll worry about that if he gallops good enough on Tuesday,” Weir said.
Mark Zahra will ride Stratum Star who carries 55kg.
A Group One winner during the Melbourne spring, Stratum Star ran second in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last month before finishing third to He Or She in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington on March 12.
Winx is the odds-on favourite for the Doncaster at $1.90 with Palentino at $15 and Stratum Star at $51.
Winx’s Chris Waller-trained stablemate Kermadec, who won the Doncaster last year as a three-year-old, is the $6 second favourite with First Seal and Happy Clapper both at $11.
