Group Two winner Sircconi has beaten older horses at Caulfield and has left trainer Peter Morgan pondering where to take the colt next.
Morgan admitted he has been “playing catch-up” with last season’s VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner in the past couple of weeks and the colt missed a planned second-up start against his own age at Flemington last Saturday.
But the trainer was delighted to see Sircconi hold out the fast-finishing Wyndspelle by a long neck in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Supports National Jockeys Trust Handicap (1400m), with third placegetter So Si Bon also storming home out wide to finish another short half head away.
“He’s been a bit of a headache to me this time,” Morgan said.
“He ended up with a little virus a fortnight ago and I missed last Saturday. It might be a blessing in disguise.
“But it gets a bit tough when you’re playing catch-up all the time.”
Morgan had Sircconi nominated in Saturday’s 1600m handicap for three-year-olds, where he would have had 60kg, but elected for the 1400m against older horses on the limit weight.
He said he believed the colt was still a bit underdone fitness-wise and should improve from Saturday.
Sircconi had support from $21 into $12 and led on the rail for jockey Linda Meech.
“That was pretty good because I don’t think he’s quite a fit horse at this stage,” Morgan said.
“I’m not sure where I’ll go now.
“I’ve always thought he would be a 2000-metre horse. Whether we go to the (Caulfield) Guineas or not, I’m not sure about that.”
Sircconi is $41 in Sportsbet.com.au’s markets for the Caulfield Guineas 2017.
