Trainer Jarrod McLean is confident after three runs in Victoria Trap For Fools is ready to put his best foot forward.
But as always the might of Australia’s leading trainer Darren Weir will be a stumbling block.
As a foreman for Weir, McLean knows full well how imposing the stable is and has an intimate knowledge of those horses based at Warrnambool.
After placings at his past two starts, the McLean-trained former Perth horse Trap For Fools runs in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Cash Out Handicap (2040m).
McLean also prepares Weir opponents Pacodali and Grand Dreamer at Warrnambool for the master trainer and knows how well the pair are going.
But he can’t expand on Tall Ship, Master Zephyr and Kellstrom who are trained at Baringhup, Weir’s new property at Maldon.
With no Sixties Groove to contend with on Saturday, McLean said Trap For Falls gets his chance to win on Victorian soil.
“It looks a good race and there’s no Sixties Groove but we’ve still got the Weir army to contend with,” McLean said.
“I think he’s got all their measure with the exception of Pacodali.
“He’s probably the class horse of the field but my bloke meets Pacodali 3.5 kg better so he gets his chance to turn the tables on him.”
The last two times Trap For Fools has raced, it’s been Weir runners to get in the way.
Traps For Fools ran third to Pacodali and Sixties Groove at Caulfield on June 30 before finishing second to Sixties Groove at Flemington on July 21.
McLean said there was no disappointment in defeat noting he’s part of the Weir team, but added it would be nice to get one up on Saturday.
“I’m all part of it but instead of running second or third, hopefully it’s my turn,” he said.
Pacodali was down to run at Flemington on July 21 but was scratched on course through lameness.
“He had a foot abscess,” McLean said.
“He’s had two weeks to get over that now and hasn’t missed any work so he’ll be hard to beat on Saturday.”
McLean said Grand Dreamer was progressing nicely but believes the gelding needs a wet track to produce his best.
