Jockey turned trainer Clayton Douglas will watch his first Group 1 runner from the couch at home when Inverell contests the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
The young Mornington horseman will send Inverell north for the 2000m race for three-year-olds while stablemate Mimosas will run in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Both horses were among acceptances for races at Sale on Wednesday, but a heavy track has turned Douglas’ attention to the Sydney options.
“Sale was a back-up option, and they did look good races, but the track is going to come up pretty heavy,” Douglas said.
“When we threw the nomination in for the Spring Champion, the horse was in the market and the ownership group was happy to roll the dice, so we’ll see how he fronts up third-up at the 2000 metres.”
Inverell was successful over 1429m at Sale in August on debut before running ninth in the Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington on September 22.
Douglas said Inverell was a victim of circumstance when interfered with on the hometurn that day.
“You can’t stop his momentum and I thought he did stick on OK after what happened,” Douglas said.
“It is a bit of an ask and it’s throwing him into the deep end, but it’s worth the shot and it will probably be good experience for the autumn giving him a trip away.”
Douglas said Mimosas was a hard horse to place having scratched the gelding from the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Mimosas was successful on debut at Flemington in May before running fifth at Sandown the following month at his only other start.
“We had him in on Wednesday at Sale, but he’s got 59kg against the older horses and the other option was to go to the Blue Sapphire, but he’ll be running into horses like Profiteer,” Douglas said.
“He needs to step a bit on what he’s done, but I feel he’s developed a little bit.”
Douglas said Nash Rawiller had been booked for Inverell while Glen Boss will ride Mimosas.
