The verdict: James Orman keen to stick with Niccanova in Stradbroke; Eagle Farm all clear after bomb scare
Jockey Jimmy Orman is likely to consult fitness guru Ron Johnson in a bid to ride Niccanova in the Stradbroke after the gelding produced an eye-catching run in the Victory Stakes.
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Jimmy Orman is likely to consult fitness guru Ron Johnson in a bid to ride Niccanova at 53kg in the Stradbroke on June 6.
The Steve Tregea-trained gelding was one of the big firmers for the feature sprint after having the flashing lights on at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Orman normally rides 55kg, but told Tregea he would do everything possible to ride Niccanova in the Stradbroke if given the chance.
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“Draw a gate and you win that race,” Orman told Tregea after dismounting. “He’s going to take some beating in the Stradbroke.
“I will speak to my manager (about getting down in weight). It was a really good run. 55kg is comfortable for me (but) I think I could get down to it and be strong.”
Many jockeys would love for Trekking to be a non-acceptor in the Stradbroke, meaning weights would be raised to a minimum top weight of 57kg.
Trekking arrived in Brisbane last week and Godolphin’s Australian manager Vin Cox said he would run, provided he pleased the stable over the next week.
Stewards will give consideration to any requests made by connections for a jockey to ride over weight, given the fact no interstate riders are permitted to be here, leaving a shortage of suitable lightweight jockeys.
“We would want connections to come to us before final declarations, so we can give due consideration to it. After acceptances, it becomes more difficult,” chief steward Peter Chadwick said.
“We would want to give everyone as much notice in advance of what it’s going to be.
“We need to be mindful of two things. Connections having the rider that gives the horse its best chance in their opinion, but also punters so they can do their form confident that it will be close to the declared weight.”
THREAT STRIKES FARM
Peter Chadwick had his hands full with the venue threat that hit Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Police arrived on course after a threat was made over the Eagle Farm venue and the races came to a standstill for an hour.
Stewards were in constant dialogue with police, during which time there was a chance the remainder of the meeting could be abandoned.
The meeting could not proceed until police were satisfied that the threat did not pose a safety concern to anyone on course.
Eventually the all-clear was given, with the remaining races having a forced change of time.
Trainers noted they could not recall a similar incident in their entire careers.
Never a dull moment when it comes to Eagle Farm!
TOUGH DOUBLE
Victorem faces an interesting historical hurdle if he’s to double up in a fortnight.
The Victory Stakes has had a few incarnations over the years, formerly the Sir Byrne Hart and run at 1400m. Now 1200m, the race switched from WFA to set weights and penalties this year. Srikandi (2015) is the only Victory winner to claim the Stradbroke since Rough Habit did the double in 1991.
Obviously it’s a totally different ball game with the carnival switch up this year, but running in the lead-up a fortnight before the Stradbroke hasn’t been much help either over the years.
The last Kingsford Smith winner to win the Stradbroke was Thorn Park (2004), but that was when it was run as the BTC Cup, before the Doomben 10,000. And the last Doomben 10,000 winner to do the double was Campaign King in 1988.
FRADD’S FEELING GLAD
Robbie Fradd didn’t win a race at Eagle Farm, but he was sporting a big grin on a couple of fronts.
Firstly, he galloped Wisdom Of Water in an exhibition gallop early in the day and then later, his Stradbroke mount Tyzone turned in a superb trial in the Victory Stakes. Tyzone drops to just 52½kg in the Stradbroke and Fradd says he will make the weight comfortably.
It was the first time Wisdom Of Water had been to Eagle Farm since his debut last November.
Co-trainer Toby Edmonds was keen to give the J.J. Atkins aspirant another feel of the Eagle Farm surface after he jarred up behind Rothfire at his only other previous visit there.
“He was just out for a look. We wanted him to have another feel of the track,” Edmonds said.
“You never know whether they remember what happened previously, but he seemed to enjoy it and he couldn’t have been more impressive. He worked quite effortlessly.”
Wisdom Of Water ran his last 600m in 36.3sec and quickened up to run his last 200m in 11.3sec. Edmonds has another fortnight to have the chestnut in peak condition for the J.J. Atkins on June 6.
HOT GOSSIP ON COSMIC
The J.J. Atkins will also feature the Stuart Kendrick-trained Cosmic Gossip, who made a winning return yesterday, despite being short of fitness.
“Like everything else, she’s nommed for the J.J and she’s got enough prizemoney to get in, so there’s no reason we wouldn’t roll the dice,” Kendrick said.
“She was only 75 per cent ready off one soft trial after a month in the paddock, so she’s done a really good job. She should improve a lot off it, which she has to, but a two-year-old in form, you’ve got to have a go.”
Originally published as The verdict: James Orman keen to stick with Niccanova in Stradbroke; Eagle Farm all clear after bomb scare