DAY two of the Perth festival today with another two runners this afternoon.
ELMLEY LOVETT (1.30) lines up in the mares’ novice on her second start since joining us. Anyone who saw her at Wetherby will know she’s a large, chasing type who needs experience on the racetrack now. We have decided to step her back to two miles because we felt she just got a bit tired last time, so this sharper test might see her up there for a bit longer. For her right now it’s all about getting that experience into her and she’s one you probably won’t see the best of until next season.
OKOVANGO DELTA (2.00) has had a bit of a strange time lately because we rushed to get him qualified for the Go North Series final but the ground got too soft at Kelso so we didn’t run. That was a shame but it was just bad luck, to be honest. He didn’t run the way he can in the two qualifiers but there were factors there and he’s ready to bounce back now. The one query we do have, though, is whether he’ll handle a sharp track like Perth because his best form has been at galloping courses.
Dylan Johnston rides to take off 7lbs and we’ve put a visor on him to give him a bit of a surprise, so hopefully that works and he’ll go well.
It was frustrating to see Captain Quint unseat yesterday after just five fences, so it’s impossible to know how that one would have ended up. Quint is fine and Lucinda Russell kindly let us school at her yard this morning under Conor O’Farrell. He jumped well and has suffered no ill-effects, so he will take his place in the three-mile race tomorrow.
Unfortunately Craig Nichol isn’t as well, he’s fractured two vertebrae which is really unfortunate and he’ll now be on the sidelines for a bit.
Rockonsoph ran well for a long way before tiring between the final two hurdles and dropping back through the field. We changed the tactics on her but she was just too keen out in front and that’s why she didn’t get home.