Trainer Michael Hickmott is hopeful the owners of recent stable addition Promises Kept will have some fun in coming weeks.
Promises Kept makes the trip across from South Australia to run in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday with the potential of back-up the following week in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m).
A member firstly of the Greg Eurell stable and then Ciaron Maher, Promises Kept has been in Hickmott’s care for just two starts.
Promises Kept finished sixth first-up in the Listed Murray Bridge Cup (1600m) in October then was fifth behind Air Assault, an opponent on Saturday, in the Listed John Letts Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on November 4.
“He was always going to need the run first-up,” Hickmott said.
“I thought his first-up run was a pass mark then his next run was clearly dominated by on-pacers.
“His sectionals, right up until the 200-metre mark, were everything as good as anything in the race, but he flattened out in the last furlong.
“Up to the 2000 metres suits better and we’re looking at running him in this and then back-up into the Pakenham Cup with him.”
Last campaign when under the care of Maher, Promises Kept scored over 2200m at Hobart before running successive placings in the Hobart Cup and Launceston Cup, both at 2400m.
Promises Kept was then stepped up to the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup but finished last.
Hickmott said he had not looked past next week’s Pakenham Cup with Promises Kept.
“He’s a lovely old horse that is in the zone, he’s sound, moving good, he looks fantastic and his work has been good, but it is a very good race on Saturday,” Hickmott said.
Hickmott is also sending Party Crasher to Ballarat for the Hertz Handicap (2000m), a benchmark 84 contest.
Party Crasher was last seen winning over 2000m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
“He’s a progressive horse and comes into this race as the most inexperienced horse in the race, but he’s on the way up,” Hickmott said.
“He did a fantastic job at Flemington, and I was really proud of the horse.
“He’s continued to thrive since and I expect him to be really competitive in what is a strong race.”
