Centre Pivot finally looks poised to return to racing for the first time since January
Centre Pivot finally looks poised to return to racing for the first time since January with Sydney’s weather forecast all but assuring a comeback in the Civic Stakes at Rosehill.
Randwick trainer Peter Robl has been waiting for the best part of a month to run the six-year-old and as long as the track is no worse than soft, Centre Pivot will line up for more black type in Saturday’s Listed 1350m-race the Civic Stakes.
Despite rain in Sydney on Wednesday, the forecast is for clear weather in the lead-up to race day.
Robl’s only concern is the barrier draw with Centre Pivot allocated gate eight with Tye Angland to ride.
“It’s a touch awkward but Tye’s riding well and it’ll up to him to find a spot in midfield,” Robl said.
Centre Pivot, who contested five Listed or Group races in his previous campaign, wasset for last weekend’s Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick but Robl scratched him when the track was heavy.
“He’s had a couple of trials under his belt,” he said.
“I don’t see the distance posing any problems. His preparation has been faultless to this point, except for the weather.”
Veteran stayer Iggi Pop is also expected to appreciate a firmer surface in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).
The eight-year-old struggled to make headway on a heavy Rosehill track on June 17, finishing 11 lengths behind Supply And Demand over 2000m on June 17.
“The heavy tracks haven’t been doing him any favours at all,” Robl said.
“It’ll be nice to get him on a better surface and hopefully he can find some form.
“He’s fourth-up. I think the journey’s right.
“He’ll roll forward and lead or sit outside the leader, the barrier won’t be too much of an issue.”
Robl thinks his other runner, Our Boy Nicholas, might still need another run under his belt to be competitive in the 1500m-benchmark Handicap.
“I think he can get to a mile or 1800. Ideally third-up he might get to 1900 at Canterbury,” he said.
“He’s probably a midweek horse with a Saturday horse’s rating so he’s a bit hard to place.”
