Trainer Richard Litt sees more positives than negatives ahead of Profondo making his Melbourne debut in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.
While he would have preferred to stay in Sydney and kick off Profondo’s campaign in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), Litt says the decision to come south was the correct one.
Litt said he did not want to start Profondo on a very heavy track at Randwick after weeks of rain and despite drawing barrier 15 in Saturday’s 1600m race at Flemington is not too worried.
He said that was better than drawing a barrier closer to the rail and it would now be up to Robbie Dolan to navigate a winning passage, hopefully.
“He’s a pretty sensible horse and I don’t think racing left-handed will be a problem,” Litt said.
“I think it might be a bit of a positive on Saturday as he likes to lug-in a little bit in his races, so coming down here he will get on his other leg, and it might suit him.”
Preparing a $1.9 million yearling should be nerve racking for a trainer, but Litt said it does not bother him as he knows Profondo can gallop.
He said he gets more nervous taking a horse to a place like Orange with one that does not have the same ability as his stable star.
Litt sees Saturday’s race as an exciting challenge after Profondo arrived at Flemington at 4am on Friday morning with the trainer there to greet him.
“He came off the truck bouncing,” Litt said.
“Everything has to go his way on Saturday but he’s very versatile. I don’t want him jammed up on the fence looking for runs in the last 400 metres so that’s why the barrier suits.
“Out there that’s Robbie’s (Dolan) deal, I can’t have that pressure of riding him as well.”
Profondo will return to Sydney on Sunday to prepare for the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 19 and then either head to the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) on April 2 or the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) the following week.
