David Brideoake is in no rush with dual-purpose galloper Self Sense who kicks off his spring campaign at Caulfield.
Self Sense, who has campaigned successfully over hurdles and on the flat, has a ticket into the 2019 Caulfield Cup courtesy of his win in the Mornington Cup in March.
The rising nine-year-old starts his campaign towards the $5 million Caulfield Cup on October 19 in Saturday’s Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap.
Self Sense hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool in May which followed an inglorious last-placed finish at Flemington on April 25.
However Self Sense had been in sparkling form before that, winning the Yarra Valley Cup ahead of his Mornington Cup success and running fifth in the Chairman’s Stakes in Sydney during The Championships.
“I think we delved into his last campaign a bit too deep,” Brideoake said.
“His flat runs were so good we might have got to the bottom of him before I expected.
“I’d say we peaked at Mornington and in Sydney when he put in that mammoth run in the Chairman’s and I think that took the edge off him.”
Brideoake said the owners of Self Sense were looking forward to the upcoming spring, in particular the Caulfield Cup.
“They’ve won a good race, the Mornington Cup, but the bonus of that is the excitement all these owners now have with a Caulfield Cup runner,” Brideoake said.
“It’s huge and everyone is really keen on it.”
Self Sense had a month in the paddock following his Galleywood Hurdle run and didn’t lose a lot of residual fitness.
“He’s in good shape but he takes a few runs to get himself into racing shape so that’s why we want to get him started now,” Brideoake said.
“But his gallop in company on Tuesday was good and he could run a nice race fresh.”
