With the Tasmanian summer carnival starting to warm up, trainer Adam Trinder has decided on a trip to Melbourne for Silver Bolt.
A seven-time winner from 17 starts in Tasmania, Silver Bolt makes his Melbourne debut in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap on Saturday.
Trinder is no stranger to success at Moonee Valley and is taking advantage of a drop in rating for Silver Bolt to make his way across Bass Strait.
“I’m looking to diversify a bit with him,” Trinder said.
“With the structure of the summer carnival and his current rating he potentially only fits into the weight-for-age races down here.
“It’s a big ask to race our 100 raters at level weights so with a rating reduction I thought it was the opportunity to try him Victoria with a claim.”
Silver Bolt hasn’t been successful since scoring at Hobart in February but the gelding has produced some good performances in four starts this campaign.
Trinder said Silver Bolt was well placed to win races last campaign but with a higher rating he’s had to step up against higher quality opposition.
“I feel he’s somewhere near that mark again,” Trinder said.
“Even looking at his form he finished behind Valiant Warrior last start who is a Moonee Valley winner so I think the timing is right to send him over and see where he fits in.”
While Moonee Valley can be a tricky layout, Trinder has no concerns about the five-year-old handling the contours of the track.
Silver Bolt has three wins to his credit at Launceston and like that track Moonee Valley has the StrathAyr surface.
And with the late finish at Moonee Valley on Saturday night, Trinder said the lights at Moonee Valley won’t be any cause for concern.
“His record under lights is fine,” Trinder said.
“He’s an adaptable little horse.
“I rate Moonee Valley quite similar to Launceston which he has been productive at.”
Silver Bolt travels on Friday evening from Tasmania and will spend Saturday at Patrick Payne’s property at Plumpton before his race at 7.40pm.
“He’s a fuss-free little horse and while I’ve only travelled him locally I don’t see the travel being any concern,” Trinder said.
