Trainer Anthony Cummings has decided against a belated Brisbane winter carnival trip for in-form sprinter November Man who will instead compete in his own backyard.
November Man will line up in the TAB.com.au Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday in preference to the opening race at Eagle Farm on the Tatt’s Tiara program.
“I could have mucked around with floats but it was just too difficult in the short space of time,” Cummings said.
“He was in the first race up there and he’d have had no time to recover so I’ll take the odds to the track (Randwick) being OK.”
A backmarker who can reel off a strong finishing burst, November Man has flourished being kept to short course sprints this campaign, winning twice and filling the minors three times from five starts since March.
The Randwick track is certain to be rain-affected and November Man has been placed on soft ground while his sire Your Song, also trained by Cummings, was adept in the wet, brilliantly winning the 2013 Group One BTC Cup on a heavy track.
The four-year-old was at $9.50 with TAB on Friday with betting headed by the Jason Coyle-trained Spiritual Pursuit at $2.10.