One-time Golden Slipper favourite Incognito remains in the mix for the world’s richest two-year-old race, but he will undergo some gear changes to get his campaign back on track.
The Breeders’ Plate winner disappointed first-up in the Canonbury Stakes last weekend, jockey Tommy Berry reporting post-race that he thought the colt suffered a palette displacement.
Trainer Michael Freedman confirmed subsequent vet examinations appeared to support that theory, but stressed the condition, while not black and white, was often manageable.
“It can be displaced for a very short period of time then go back in place very quickly,” Freedman said.
“It’s a bit of a frustrating one and they can do it once and never do it again. It’s one of those racing things that can happen sometimes. Hopefully we can just make a few subtle changes because he is obviously a lot better than that.
“I was, to some degree, quite happy to find an issue. If you go home with no issues, you think maybe we’re not good enough.”
Freedman confirmed that Racing NSW stewards wouldn’t require Incognito to barrier trial again and at this stage the youngster would step out next in the Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill on February 21.
All being well, a start in the Golden Slipper a month later remained on their agenda.
“He’s in good order so the plan will be to change a little bit of gear on him,” Freedman said.
“I’m not exactly sure what that will be, maybe a tongue tie and a different type of bit, and then go to the Silver Slipper, although if we decided we wanted to wait an extra week, we could.”
Freedman will start another of his two-year-olds, Outspan, in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick next Saturday and reported the Bivouac colt had continued to thrive since scoring at Rosehill last month.
“He will be here next Saturday, that’s the plan,” Freedman said.
“I’m very happy with him. He did a nice bit of work (Saturday) morning, and he will have a gallop on Tuesday.”
