Trainer Clinton Taylor confident Astapor can measure up in Sydney under the care of Joe Pride

Queensland weapon Astapor is in Sydney to take on the big guns on Saturday and the man who knows the colt best is convinced he will make an impression.

Rockhampton rocket Astapor is racing in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Savvy horseman Clinton Taylor says Rockhampton rocket Astapor wasn’t right when he took on crack colt Storm Boy in the summer, but feels the explosive sprinter can make his mark in the Sydney big smoke.

Taylor has trained the three-year-old colt for all six starts – including three impressive wins – but Astapor will step out for Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride in the $200,000 Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

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Astapor’s owner – larrikin Queensland bushie Rodney Hay – had been keen for Taylor to train Astapor for his Sydney mission but the Rockhampton trainer couldn’t afford the time away from his own central Queensland stable.

So Hay, who knocked back a $1 million offer from Hong Kong for his promising young horse, was happy to send Astapor to the care of elite Group 1 winner Pride.

Taylor knows the colt better than anyone and feels he has the talent to take on some boom three-year-olds in Sydney.

Astapor tangled with future Gold Coast Magic Millions-winning colt Storm Boy in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes during the Queensland summer carnival.

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Astapor was beaten more than five lengths but Taylor revealed there were clear excuses and he backed the colt to take on Sydney with aplomb.

Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“Rodney asked me to take this horse to Sydney and I just couldn’t, I have got my family and 30 horses here so it’s just too hard to be away for very long,” Taylor said.

“I think he will have a few runs at Stakes level down in Sydney.

“I do believe this colt will aim up in Sydney.

“He had a go at Storm Boy during the summer but he wasn’t right, he came to the end of his campaign and it turned out he was a bit shin sore.

“I think at his very best he can measure up against some of the good ones in Sydney.”

Taylor said he will be cheering for Astapor as loudly as anyone on Saturday, saying: “I’m really excited to see how he goes, to be honest.”

The Rockhampton trainer said Pride contacted him for some advice when Astapor arrived in Sydney.

“Joe is a very good trainer and he did phone me when the horse went down to Sydney,” Taylor said.

“He asked me if the horse had any tricks and asked me a few other questions.”

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Hay paid $38,000 for Astapor and the colt took his earnings to $235,000 with a tough Eagle Farm victory in July.

Sent out a $2.60 favourite, Astapor was made to work after starting from a wide barrier while lumping 60kg, but was able to hold off all challengers in a dominant performance.

Originally published as Trainer Clinton Taylor confident Astapor can measure up in Sydney under the care of Joe Pride