Trainer Clint Taylor confident Astapor on right path for next month’s rich Jewel Day on the Gold Coast

An unsuccessful spring campaign in Sydney and Melbourne could be the making of Rockhampton colt Astapor ahead of his return at Doomben on Saturday.

Astapor will warm up for the QTIS Jewel Day in a sprint at Doomben this Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Rockhampton trainer Clint Taylor is confident Astapor is on the right track for next month’s rich Jewel day on the Gold Coast, despite the talented colt’s unsuccessful last campaign down south.

Astapor will race first-up as the topweight as a $7 chance in the QTIS Jewel Prelude 3YO Handicap at Doomben (1100m) on Saturday in the warm-up to the main event on the Gold Coast on March 8.

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Taylor, who spoke to Racenet before boarding a flight to Brisbane on Wednesday, said he was delighted Astapor had drawn barrier three for Saturday’s race after a run of bad luck in three races in Sydney and Melbourne during the spring last year.

The colt finished fourth at Rosehill, sixth at Caulfield in a race won by Group 1 runner-up Growing Empire and then fifth at Randwick in contests between 1110m and 1200m under the temporary guidance of Sydney trainer Joe Pride.

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“I actually thought his runs were terrific,” Taylor said.

“If you look at his runs in Group and Listed races, he drew wide and they pressed the button on him early.

“He went quite hard in his races and he was still there right at the end. He wasn’t beaten by a great deal behind some pretty handy ones.

“He was sent there (to Sydney and Melbourne) for that reason, to give him a go at the higher quality races, but he just didn’t quite measure up. In saying that, he didn’t get the best of luck either.”

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

Taylor said he was particularly encouraged by Astapor’s effort at Caulfield in a race won by Growing Empire, who went on to finish in the minor placings in Group 1 features The Manikato and The Everest last spring.

“I know it says sixth of eight at Caulfield but if you watch the run, he wasn’t beaten far. I think he’s been brave in both his runs down there,” Taylor said.

“They were high-quality races and they were the best group of three-year-olds at the time.

“This kind of race on Saturday is a big drop in grade for him.”

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The primary focus for Taylor is the $500,000 3YO QTIS Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast early next month and the trainer believes Saturday’s sprint will give him a clearer picture of Astapor’s chances.

“He’s drawn perfectly (barrier three) and that’s a big key to his chances (at Doomben),” Taylor said of Astapor, who has won three of his nine races.

“He’s been run to lead because of bad alleys but I’ve always believed he’s better with a sit.

“He’ll be ridden that way (by Justin Stanley) on Saturday. It’s a really good race to see where he’s at and hopefully kick off into the QTIS Jewel.”

Taylor will have two other chances at Doomben on Saturday – I’m A Condygirl ($18) in the QTIS Jewel Prelude 2YO Fillies Handicap (1110m), while Hellish ($7) will be chasing a remarkable seventh straight victory in a 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap.