Melbourne’s wet weather has trainer Logan McGill a little concerned ahead of speedster Written Choice’s return at Sandown.
While country areas of Victoria desperately need rain, McGill does not want to see any more ahead of Wednesday’s Walk For Phil Handicap (1000m).
The Sandown circuit is rated in the soft range after 7mm of rain on Monday night.
“Just into the soft range I think we’ll be fine,” McGill said.
“First-up last prep he ran on a soft track at Ballarat but he won well at his first start at Sandown on a soft track and then bumped into Superhard at his next run.
“Arguably he should have beaten him as he did a few things wrong.”
Written Choice has a win and a close second from three starts at Sandown, but McGill says in hindsight he should not have started Written Choice in the Doveton Stakes at the track to close out his last campaign.
Written Choice proved himself the fastest horse over the Moonee Valley short course of 955m during the recent night series, earning McGill a $55,000 cheque that remains in his wallet.
This campaign McGill wants to extend Written Choice to 1200m or 1400m after he was gelded during his break.
“His form mostly reads 955 metres and 1000 metres but Stephen Baster, who’s had a lot to do with him through his career, has always been keen to get him out to six furlongs (1200m),” McGill said.
“Lets hope that comes to fruition this time.
“He’s got such a high cruising speed and if he does run a solid six or seven furlongs (1400m) then you’d imagine he could go to another level.”
That next level could include a trip to Adelaide, but McGill says there are suitable options on the home front.
“We’ll see how he goes on Wednesday,” McGill said.
“If he happens to win we’ll sit back and reassess things.
“There’s lots of good options both here and in Adelaide. He’s a VOBIS horse or we could take him to Adelaide in a month’s time for the D C McKay Stakes.”
