Melbourne trainer John Sadler believes he has Usain Bowler going better than ever as he prepares the gelding for two interstate assignments.
Usain Bowler will be sent to Sydney on Thursday night to run at Randwick on Saturday on his way to his main summer target, the $1 million Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on January 11.
The trip to Sydney to run in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) allows Sadler to break the road trip up for Usain Bowler after being forced to travel the gelding from Melbourne to the Gold Coast in the week leading into the 2019 Magic Millions Snippets after being unable to get a flight.
“He runs at Randwick on Saturday and then I’ll give him two or three days to recover and then he’ll get on the float and head to the Gold Coast,” Sadler said.
“I reckon he is going as well as he’s ever gone. I feel this would be the best we’ve had him.
“He’ll run well on Saturday. I haven’t looked at the field yet as to whether he’s a winning chance or not but he will run well.”
Usain Bowler was the $4.20 favourite in an early market on Wednesday ahead of the John O’Shea-trained Southern Lad ($5) and James Cummings-trained mare Taniko ($5.50).
He has equal top weight of 60kg in the benchmark-88 race and has drawn barrier eight in a field of 13 with Glen Boss to ride.
After a 3-1/4-length win over 1400m during the Caulfield Cup carnival in mid-October, Usain Bowler was given a let-up with the Magic Millions race day in mind.
“It was tempting to go on after he won at Caulfield because he was in great form and there was a nice race for him over the Flemington carnival, but we tipped him out,” Sadler said.
‘He went up last year for the Magic Millions and ran fifth in the 1200-metre race and it was a good run.
“This year he goes to the 1400-metre race.”
