The expected strength of Saturday week’s Group One Myer Classic field has prompted trainer Chris Waller to change tack with in-form Little Surfer Girl.
Waller had planned to start Little Surfer Girl third-up in the Myer Classic (1600m) but instead will saddle up the last-start stakeswinner at Moonee Valley in Saturday’s Group Three Trojan Hand Tools Stakes (1600m).
“That (Myer Classic) was always going to be the target race third-up, but we’ve changed because the Myer is just going to be so strong this year and it is a weight-for-age race,” Waller said.
“She has won three Listed races, a Group One would be great but I think this race on Saturday is more realistic.”
Little Surfer Girl’s assignment became slightly easier on Thursday with Avienus, who was first emergency for the Cox Plate, gaining a start in the main event.
Little Surfer Girl won the Listed Angst Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill last start and Waller is still hopeful of a Myer Classic berth.
“She has backed up well in the past and if we could win this race obviously she deserves to be in the Myer and we’ll have to worry about getting there seven days later,” he said.
“If she’s going to run in the first three in the Myer she’ll be winning this race easily.”
Little Surfer Girl was one of three Waller-trained horses who worked at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.
She was joined by Danleigh and Triple Elegance who both run in the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m).
Triple Elegance had excuses when 10th in the Epsom last start after being “flattened” at the 600m mark.
“Foreteller finished right next to him that day and I think just forget that run,” Waller said.
“He’s drawn a good barrier (one), he puts himself there and it looks a perfect race for him if he’s up to it.”
Danleigh is a Group One Manikato Stakes winner two years ago at Moonee Valley.
“The form out of his last start (sixth in the Premiere Stakes) is good and the horse is going fine,” Waller said.
“He’s got a bit of weight (58kg) to carry but he’s probably earned it and I wouldn’t say he’s too badly off at the weights. I’d say there would be others in there that would be worried about him more than he’d be worried about them.”
AAP TURF
