Melbourne’s weather is set to determine if Nadal gets his shot at turning the tables on Hedged in next Saturday’s $200,000 Standish Handicap at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher stable is training the five-year-old son of Xtravagant as if he will contest the 1200-metre Group 3, but it is conscious of this week’s predicted conditions.
Temperatures are tipped to rise beyond 40dg midweek before much more pleasant conditions raceday with a chance of showers, which Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said would likely be required for the gelding to start.
“It’s an option, six furlongs down the straight (appeals), but it’s more weather-dependent,” Turnbull said from Geelong, where the track got to a Good 3, on Saturday.
“If the ground was to be like today, you’d probably wait. We’d love a drop of rain and we’re under no pressure, because he could really just keep poking along through autumn and through winter even.
“He’s being prepped for it, but whether or not we do go, we’ll have to see.”
Nadal ran the best race of his four-start campaign when second to Hedged – who is Standish-bound – in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) on Boxing Day and Turnbull said although beaten 2-1/2 lengths, the team took great heart out of the performance.
“He was good, he just got back and had to run through a bit of traffic, but the winner was pretty impressive,” Turnbull said.
“It was much better. He’s probably at his peak for fitness, now we’ve just got maintain that and hold his action.
“He went out last prep for knee issues, so it’s a matter of us just holding that balance, which we have.
“He’s been fine at the moment, but to run him on a fast track would probably be a chance to undo him.”
Even if Nadal is not thee, Maher is a chance to be represented in the Standish Handicap with the camp weighing up their options with Extratwo.
The six-year-old daughter of Toronado also contested the Christmas Stakes, finishing a length behind Nadal in sixth position, and Turnbull said it was a matter of weighing up the best option.
“Either we run there or there’s a 1200 or a 1400 (benchmark) 84 the week after we could claim in,” Turnbull said.
“She’s on the borderline of being a Listed, Group 3 mare in the right class and race, but we just need to place her as best we can.”
