Garry Frazer can’t fault Scottish Border ahead of the Randwick City Stakes but believes he would be a better chance on a bigger track than Warwick Farm.
Frazer is hoping to get to the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) with the up-and-coming stayer and so far everything has gone to plan.
The Randwick Guineas meeting has been switched to Warwick Farm to accommodate the Future Music Festival at Randwick.
Scottish Border returns to stakes company in the Group Three Randwick City Stakes (2100m) for the time since his game third in the Group Three Newcastle Cup (2300m) at the end of his previous preparation.
Now a more mature four-year-old, Scottish Border has had three starts this time in including a second-up win at Randwick over 1600m before a last-start second to Lamasery over 1800m at Rosehill on February 26.
“He’s done everything right so far,” Frazer said.
“He’s nominated for the Sydney Cup and that’s the way we’ll try and head. He’ll go to the Manion Cup after this and then the Chairman’s Handicap and then hopefully into the Sydney Cup.
“Warwick Farm is probably not his track but unfortunately that’s what we’ve got to deal with. They will know he is there tomorrow but I would much rather it be on a bigger track.”
Sydney Cup nominations were taken this week and Scottish Border is at $35 in the TAB Sportsbet market with Group One winners Descarado and Shocking joint favourites at $6.50 for the April 23 feature.
Chris Waller has three stayers entered for the Randwick City Stakes but Beijing Boy could be saved for the Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday week.
The Waller-trained Strike One is resuming from a let-up after disappointing as favourite in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at his most recent start, while Waller has called on Kathy O’Hara to try and get the best out of outsider Alexander Of Hales.
Waller was impressed with the way O’Hara rode Voice Commander to an all-the-way win in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) in January when Alexander Of Hales finished fourth.
“I thought Kathy was very smart when she rode Voice Commander to beat him (Alexander Of Hales) a couple of starts back,” Waller said.
“I think she rode a brilliant race tactically that day and we’d like to do the same.
“Obviously we wouldn’t go 100 miles an hour but he’s a nice horse that likes to be rolling along, he’s a colt and he needs to be in his comfort zone rather than chasing 600 metres from home.
“We’ll be telling her to adopt similar tactics and hopefully he runs well for a female rider.”
AAP TURF
