Norm Hilton is confident he has pulled the right rein in electing to take Bold Glance back to Brisbane instead of running in Sydney on Saturday.
Hilton originally planned to start Bold Glance in the Group Three Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm but had a change of heart and opted for a race closer to home.
The seven-year-old will now tackle the Hanrick Curran Open Handicap (1350m) at Doomben and while he will meet the up-and-coming Solzhenitsyn, he will dodge the likes of Moment Of Change, Rangirangdoo and Said Com in the Tramway.
“The Tramway was part of the plan but we changed tack and decided to come home,” Hilton said.
“When you look at the Tramway field it’s probably not a bad choice.”
Hilton tested the Sydney waters with Bold Glance last start and the gelding was far from disgraced finishing sixth to Pinwheel in the Group Two Warwick Stakes.
The only other time he headed south he finished third in the 2011 Doncaster Prelude and Doncaster Mile and Hilton has his sights on another of the big Randwick miles this spring.
“He’s going to the Epsom. I’ve just got to find something in between,” Hilton said.
“Maybe the George Main Stakes.”
The Robert Heathcote-trained Solzhenitsyn is favourite for Saturday’s race at $1.95 with Bold Glance the clear second pick with TAB fixed odds at $2.60.
While Bold Glance will have the advantage of race fitness, Hilton has no doubts dual stakeswinner Solzhenitsyn will be a tough foe.
“He’s first-up but I imagine Rob will have him primed to go,” he said.
The race will also mark the return of 2010 Brisbane Cup winner Crossthestart who has not raced since May last year due to injury.
Bold Glance will be one of two runners for Hilton along with Norocos in the Brand & Slater Fillies and Mares Handicap (1200m).
The mare had a tough run from a wide barrier when last in the Show County Quality but she has drawn well in two this week.
“She didn’t get beaten that far. She was four and five wide the whole way and they ran a race record,” Hilton said of the Show County effort.
“We gave her some time out in the paddock to freshen her up and I think she can bounce back. It’s a nice race for her.”
