Paul Beshara is a creature of habit when it comes to the preparation of his weight-for-age galloper Happy Trails.
In the last four seasons the gelding has start his campaign in the Spring Stakes in Adelaide before heading to Melbourne.
Happy Trails, Damien Oliver
On Saturday, Happy Trails commences his Melbourne campaign in the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, a race he has appeared in three times.
Beshara has warned racegoers this year will see a more dour Happy Trails with the trainer looking towards a start in the Melbourne Cup.
As the years have progressed, Happy Trails’ record suggests he appreciates his races getting longer with his most recent wins being over 2000m at Flemington.
In 2012 Happy Trails won the Spring Stakes before finishing second in the Memsie.
In 2013 he finished fifth in Adelaide before running seventh at Caulfield while last year he finished fifth and eighth respectively.
This year Happy Trails kicked off in the Spring Stakes with a sixth placing to Red Eclipse.
Beshara said Happy Trails had progressed well since that run and would be sent to Melbourne on Thursday night where he will remain for the remainder of the spring.
“He’s come on nicely from the Spring Stakes and he’s a happy horse,” Beshara said.
“When they’re happy, I’m happy.”
Happy Trails will progress to the Makybe Diva Stakes on September 12 and then the Turnbull Stakes on October 4 on his way to the Cox Plate and possibly the Melbourne Cup.
“We’ll throw in a nom for the Melbourne Cup and see what happens,” Beshara said.
“Two miles will be new for him but three-quarters of the field wouldn’t have raced at it before, and his style of racing will suit.
“They don’t change the winning post, it’s just the barriers are a little bit further around.”
Glen Boss will be reunited with Happy Trails on Saturday, having not ridden the gelding since winning the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley in 2012 after a Memsie placing.
