The chance to catch some of the future autumn stars napping has prompted connections of Territory to throw him in the deep end in the Expressway Stakes.
Trainer Jarrod Austin said he and the gelding’s owners decided to put Territory in as a late entry hoping his fitness would hold him in good stead in Saturday’s Group Two sprint at Rosehill.
The other 11 nominations include Group One winners Boban, Hawkspur, Beaten Up and Driefontein.
Territory finished a close third in the Group Three Takeover Target Stakes behind emerging star Ball Of Muscle and That’s A Good Idea.
“The owners had a good look at the race and decided to have a go at it,” Austin said.
“There are some quality Group One horses resuming that have never won over six furlongs (1200m) so we thought Territory deserved a chance at a race like this.
“He is not going to be going far into the carnival. He likes wet tracks and he likes Rosehill so this is his best chance to win a big race.”
The seven-year-old, who began his career with Lee Freedman training him for Darley, has had to be looked after carefully due to an ongoing leg problem.
“He has a bad joint which has been with him all along and we just have to manage it,” Austin said.
There were two late entries taken on Tuesday for the Canonbury Stakes (1100m), bringing the number to seven in the two-year-old race for colts and geldings.
The John Sargent-trained Cashing Up and Mister Meaner from the Adam Wadick stable have been added to the line-up which is headed by Vancouver.
The winner of the Breeders’ Plate in October, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver finished fourth in a recent barrier trial in which Cashing Up was third.
In contrast to the Canonbury, the Widden Stakes for fillies has 14 entries including Godolphin’s Calaverite and Igraine and the Waterhouse-trained pair of English and Giulietta.
Calaverite and Igraine finished one-two in the Gimcrack Stakes.
Vancouver is on the third line of Golden Slipper betting at $11 while Calaverite is a $15 chance.
