Talented sprinter Scallopini will be given another chance to halt the Jonker juggernaut in the George Moore Stakes.
Co-trainer Matt Hoysted said Scallopini will line up in the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 5 after losing round one against Jonker in the Keith Noud Quality on November 14.
“They ran along at a fast pace with sustained speed the entire way and he ended up further back than we would’ve liked from the wide gate,” Hoysted said.
“He was probably out of his comfort zone for a lot of the race at that frenetic speed but we were really pleased with his closing splits and the way he attacked the line.”
Jonker led all the way to win the Noud, clocking a sensational 1:07.83, eclipsing the previous 1200 metre track record set by champion sprinter Takeover Target in the 2005 Summer Stakes.
On-pace runners filled the placings in the Noud but Hoysted noted Scallopini was one of only a few horses to make ground.
Hoysted believes the three-week break between the Noud and the Moore will enable Scallopini to remain on the fresh side.
“He’ll go to the George Moore and we’re really happy with the way he’s progressing this prep,” he said.
Stablemate Dominant King, who scored impressively on the same day as the Noud, is enjoying a short break from racing.
While Hoysted was impressed with Dominant King’s Doomben win, he believes there is immense improvement still to come from the three-year-old.
“He’s a horse we’ve always had a very high opinion of and he’s still not the furnished product yet,” he said.
“When he hit the line he was wanting to prick his ears and switch off late but ran a class record time so it just shows the ability the horse has.”
Dominant King has not raced beyond 1200 metres but Hoysted believes he will be even better suited as he steps up in distance.
The Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January is the gelding’s primary goal if he can earn enough prize money in the lead up to be guaranteed a start.
