An off-season Sandown race will be a Queensland Guineas audition for talented colt Mr Individual.
Mr Individual ran below expectations in his return in Adelaide but will be out to bounce back in Saturday’s Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1400m).
The three-year-old was aimed towards the Caulfield Guineas in the spring but was left as an emergency for the Group One race.
He won at Caulfield a few days after the Guineas beating subsequent autumn Group winner He’s Our Rokkii before undergoing knee surgery to remove bone chips.
Trainer Troy Corstens rates Mr Individual but said the colt’s first-up run in the Group Two Euclase Stakes was below stable expectations.
He believes Mr Individual wasn’t right in Adelaide and might not have settled in.
“He just jarred up a bit on that track and he came back and wasn’t quite himself for a couple of days,” Corstens said.
“He’s really bounced back nicely now and he’s glowing in the coat and looks much better and much happier.”
His performance on Saturday, for which he is the $5.50 favourite, will determine whether he heads north.
“If he wins on Saturday he’ll be flown up to Queensland for the Queensland Guineas,” Corstens said.
After the Sandown track was rated in the soft range on Friday, Corstens said it was all systems go for Mr Individual to run.
But any overnight rain might prompt a rethink, given the colt has 60kg.
