Trainer Kylie Schulz optimistic about Surprise Coming ahead of spring campaign
We are yet to see the best of Surprise Coming, but it’s not far away according to Murray Bridge trainer Kylie Schulz.
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We are yet to see the best of Surprise Coming, but it’s not far away according to Murray Bridge trainer Kylie Schulz.
The exciting gelding scored a feature win in June, winning the Racing Rewards 3YO Plate over Lingani, and Schulz believes her stable gun has risen another level heading into a first-up run at Morphettville on Saturday.
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“His work has really stepped up a notch this time around, which is good because he’s going to meet better horses now so he does have to improve a bit again,” Schulz said.
“He’s shown so far on the track that he’s improved from his last preparation, hopefully he can take that to the races on Saturday, he’s got a good barrier (two) and a good jockey so I expect him to be right there at the end.”
Surprise Coming has already contested strong company, the four-year-old finished an impressive second behind eventual Group 1 winner Griff in last year’s Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington.
The ability is there, but Schulz is still determining whether or not the son of Impending is a genuine sprinter.
Schulz initially believed there was scope for a dabble at the mile, although his recent trackwork form has her second guessing that idea.
“His work has been really sharp, I’m not really sure whether he’s going to run a strong mile yet,” she said.
“He’ll have a (run at) 1200m then probably go to a 1400m after that, then we will see whether we keep him to that distance or keep him going up.
“His mother won over 1700m – so we’ll just see.”
Surprise Coming races clear over the concluding stages at Murray Bridge. pic.twitter.com/BRV9K9xixb
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 15, 2024
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As for spring racing, there’s a strong chance Surprise Coming will take his talents back to Melbourne, and it may come as early as next start.
“We’ve got a few options, if he doesn’t happen to get the mile we can keep him to the 1400m, there’s some nice 1400m races in Melbourne, I think there’s one on Melbourne Cup Day,” she said.
“Even after this race Saturday there is a couple of 1400m (races), one is a Listed race, another one is a benchmark race I think.
“It’s nearly 12 months since he raced in the Exford Plate, I think there is a race on that day, a 1400m, if he happens to go there it would be almost twelve months since he ran second (there).”
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While a stint in the paddock has ensured Surprise Coming hasn’t been sighted since his last-start win on June 15, runner-up Lingani struck feature success in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m).
“It’s really stacked up that form,” Schulz said.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday, getting back to the races again, just by his work he looks like he’s in for a very good preparation.”
Surprise Coming will contest a BM82 over 1200m on Saturday with Kayla Crowther aboard, he is a $3.20 favourite with TAB fixed odds.
Originally published as Trainer Kylie Schulz optimistic about Surprise Coming ahead of spring campaign
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