Melbourne spring beckons for More To Gain

He’s high-maintenance and loves a wet track but trainer Amanda Turner insists More To Gain is a pleasure to train as she plots his spring carnival plan.

Ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill, Turner and co-trainer Mauro Poletti are faced with a conundrum.

They either take advantage of the 53kg he has in the Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) or get More To Gain to a more suitable trip over 2000m in a benchmark race.

One certainty is any rain will aid his cause.

“We’ve washed the car and put the washing on the line,” Turner said.

Rain is expected in Sydney on Wednesday but will clear later in the week.

Whichever race they choose, the horse is showing enough for Turner to be planning a trip to Melbourne for a race during the carnival.

“He’s doing everything right,” Turner said.

More To Gain was favourite when beaten at Wyong last start on September 13 but there was little going his way.

“He nearly ran home in 33 seconds after missing the kick and carrying 61kg,” Turner said.

“That was a super run with that weight on his back.

“The track was a bit firm and things were wrong. He just needed that extra run under his belt which he’s got now.”

Turner says More To Gain has battled injury and other issues, but he’s worth the extra attention.

“This horse is high-maintenance even though he’s a good horse to work with,” Turner said.

“He’s a pleasure to have in the stable, just a lovely horse.”

And he’s making his presence felt at their Warwick Farm stable as the carnival kicks into gear.

“This time in he’s been a lot more big and burly,” Turner said.

More To Gain’s stablemate Bring Luck is also entered in the benchmark race.

“He’s a very small horse and he has been carrying heavy weights lately,” Turner said.

“I’d love to go somewhere in the provincials to give him a kill to get his confidence up somewhere but his rating is too high.”

The last time Bring Luck and More To Gain raced on the same day, they gave Turner and Poletti a double at Rosehill in November 2015.