Mike Moroney considers the Kennedy Mile at Flemington a good opportunity to give import Radipole a crack at a rich Group One handicap with a light weight.
But the trainer believes the barrier draw for the five-year-old former French-trained galloper in Saturday’s $1 million Kennedy Mile is less than ideal.
Radipole has barrier 11 in the field of 14 and goes into the race off a last-start second in the Listed Seymour Cup on October 22.
A winner of four of his eight starts in France, Radipole has won one of his five Australian races with the victory coming in an 1800m handicap at Caulfield on July 1.
He was then given a let-up ahead of spring.
Moroney believes Radipole has improved from the Seymour Cup which was only his second spring start having missed a planned run at Caulfield on October 1 because he got a boil on his wither.
Radipole, to be ridden by Patrick Moloney, is at $19 with Toorak Handicap winner Tosen Stardom and his Darren Weir-trained stablemate Lucky Hussler equal favourites at $5.50.
Radipole is one of nine runners on the limit weight of 52kg.
“I’m a bit disappointed with his barrier draw,” Moroney said.
“That’s going to make it tough but we just thought he would be a light weight chance.
“It’s not that often you get the chance to run in a Group One handicap with 52 kilos with a horse of his quality, because we do think he’s going to make his way through.
“He’s lightly raced and he’s one of our better ones now he’s acclimatised.”
The Kennedy Mile is planned to be Radipole’s final start this campaign, with Moroney keen to focus more on next year’s autumn and winter carnivals with the gelding.
He is hopeful he could measure up in races such as the Doncaster Mile and Doomben Cup.
“We’ll really start attacking from the autumn,” he said.
Chris Waller has accepted for six runners in the Kennedy Mile including three mares – Egg Tart, Omei Sword and Shillelagh who is fourth emergency for Saturday’s Myer Classic.
Egg Tart and stablemate Tom Melbourne are both at $6.
