Like most trainers and connections of a mare, Tony Noonan would like to see Herbert Park in a race at Stakes level.
But for the time being he is content to see Herbert Park progress through the grades and improve her race smarts before getting to a higher level.
As part of her learning curve, Noonan has picked out The Mystic Journey (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Mystic Journey will be Herbert Park’s second run back from a break having finished last behind, in a five-horse field, behind Samangu over the same course and distance on February 22.
Noonan took advantage of a trip to Caulfield on Tuesday to gallop Herbert Park ahead of Saturday’s assignment and is expecting an improved performance.
“This mare has had one run back and we just felt with three weeks between runs, it would have her perfectly prepared for Saturday,” Noonan said of Tuesday’s Caulfield visit.
“They didn’t go hard in the race first-up and those horses that sat forward were able to kick on the corner and left her a little flat footed and she probably ran out of condition in the last little bit.
“She’s probably better placed when there is genuine speed. She doesn’t have all the race tactics yet and is still learning and she seems to be better when she builds into her work, so hopefully we can do that on Saturday.”
Herbert Park strung three wins together last winter, including a win on soft ground at Caulfield.
Noonan is hoping the mare can translate that form into a winning performance on top of the ground on Saturday.
“Most of her form is on soft ground, so whether she has a preference for that, this is a good time to find out,” Noonan said.
“She’s a gross mare, so we thought to leave her in the paddock for that length of time wasn’t going to be to her advantage, so she’ll have this run and then we may ease off and may be look to racing when the tracks soften up a bit.
“If her form warranted it, she might have a little trip to Sydney at the back end of their carnival, or there’s a Stakes race over in Adelaide in May that could suit, so that’s where she might be placed later on.
“She’s in great shape and her work’s been good, so I don’t have any doubt that she’s as good as we can get her, and hopefully we see that on Saturday.”
