Scratched from the Galaxy due to a wide gate, Splintex has drawn to get the favours at Rosehill.
Splintex doesn’t win out of turn, but the stars might be aligning for the sprinter to produce another peak performance at Rosehill on Saturday.
The five-year-old was scratched from the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) last weekend after he drew an outside gate and has fared markedly better with barrier five for this week’s Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m).
Boasting a strong second-up record, he drops in grade from his fresh effort behind Eduardo in the Challenge Stakes and with two wins from three starts on heavy ground, a wet track won’t be an issue.
“He goes a lot better second-up, he has drawn well and he likes the wet,” trainer Mark Newnham said.
“He was a second-up winner last prep when he won the Bobbie Lewis (Quality), so he’s pretty well primed to run as good as he can against opposition he has been successful against in the past.”
Mark Newnham is also confident stablemate Expat can bounce back in Saturday’s Emancipation Stakes (1500m) after setting a solid tempo and sticking on gamely when a last-start fifth in the Coolmore Classic over the same course and distance.
“When you get a full field of mares in the Coolmore there is generally a pretty hot pace and it probably just found her out,” Newnham said.
“She ran very well but with less runners, the rail out five (metres), it creates an opportunity for her again and she never runs badly.”
Hawkes Racing colt Remarque and Rustic Steel are early withdrawals from the Star Kingdom Stakes, paving the way for second emergency Maotai to gain a start.
The Kacy Fogden-trained three-year-old was a stunning barrier trial winner on Tuesday, streeting his rivals by more than 10 lengths and is an early $2.90 TAB fixed odds favourite.
