John McArdle is excited to have his forgotten three-year-old Power Trip back in work
Trainer John McArdle is excited to have his forgotten three-year-old Power Trip back in work.
Power Trip missed the spring after one run when he succumbed to an unexplained sickness.
Power Trip has been back in work for just over a week and McArdle says the gelding has come back 40 or 50kg heavier.
McArdle sent Power Trip to Adelaide for the Lightning Stakes at Morphettville to start his spring campaign which ended up being his only appearance.
“He only had one run and came from last to run fourth behind Viddora and Ocean Embers and then he got sick,” McArdle said.
“We’re not 100 per cent sure what it was.
“He wouldn’t eat, but his bloods and that were all right and we scoped his gut, so whether he was a little travel sick, we’re not sure.
“We gave him three months off and he’s come back a lot better for it.”
Power Trip showed potential from his first start when he downed subsequent Group One winning three-year-old Flying Artie in the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington.
The then two-year-old returned in the autumn and finished fourth in the Blue Diamond Stakes before stepping up to 1400m and running sixth in the Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Power Trip is the younger brother of Beau Rada and McArdle says the pair are chalk and cheese.
Beau Rada weighs in around 510kg and is 15.1 hands while Power Trip tips the scales at 590kg and is 17 hands.
While Beau Rada has struggled to get past 1000m McArdle hopes Power Trip may extend out to 1600m and be a contender for the Australian Guineas in March.
“We have to get him back first and firing and if he looks like he’ll run the mile then we’ll head towards the Australian Guineas,” McArdle said.
“After that he could possibly go on to Sydney, but if not a couple of those nice sprint races and then maybe even on to Adelaide, but we’ll be guided by how he comes back.”
