Drawing the outside barrier in a field of 16 at Gosford is not on anybody’s wish list but connections of Awesome Wonder are likely to grin and bear it with a bigger picture in mind.
Tom Charlton said a lack of suitable options the following week had he and co-trainer John O’Shea leaning towards running the mare in Saturday’s Tooheys Benchmark 78 Handicap (2100m) despite her horror gate.
Especially after withdrawing her from an assignment at Hawkesbury last week due to the heavy conditions.
“We held her back a week from Hawkesbury looking for a better track,” Charlton said.
“There is nothing at Scone for her next week so our hands might be a bit forced.
“There are a couple of nice mile-and-a-half races that followed this so it’s whether she runs and prepares for them.”
Awesome Wonder showed she wasn’t far off stakes grade when fifth in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2143m) at Eagle Farm last June.
A superbly bred daughter of Galileo out of Group 1 winner Nechita, she was retired to stud last year but failed to get into foal, prompting connections to have another bite at the cherry.
She showed she had returned in good order with a closing midfield effort over 1600m at Warwick Farm last month and Charlton said they were hopeful of giving her another black-type opportunity this preparation before the broodmare barn again beckoned.
“She missed getting in foal this season so she is back and racing well and working well,” he said.
“It’s not out of the realms of possibility she could pick up a nice race this campaign.”
Awesome Wonder will be one of two Gosford runners for the stable along with Queensland Derby hopeful Hurstville Zagreb in the Polvin Fencing Systms Handicap (1600m).
