3 minute read
Gosford trainer Adam Duggan has put massive sale offers aside to concentrate on sending his rising star Sir Elton for a spell with his unbeaten record intact at Randwick on Saturday.
Duggan and partners have resisted some ever increasing enquiries from Asian agents seeking to secure Sir Elton for racing in Hong Kong or Singapore since his winning streak started two months ago.
With each of Sir Elton's three wins the offers have grown but Duggan has been adamant about his long term intentions for the rising 4YO.
Sir Elton is currently eligible for next year's Provincial Championships but Duggan believes his young gun will rise above that grade if he comes back in winning form in the summer when his targets will be black type sprints.
The Provincial Championships is restricted to Class 1-5 horses and Sir Elton will be ineligible after two more wins.
After two impressive provincial wins Sir Elton gave Duggan his first Randwick win when he outclassed BM 70 field over 1100m on July 6 with Hugh Bowman aboard on his firt day of competition after his post-autumn carnival sabbatical.
Bowman sticks with the sprinter in Saturday's Book Spring Hospitality Handicap where he rises 1.5kg to 60kg for his first start over 1200m, a challenge Duggan is meeting with anticipation.
"He did it tough in the other day on a very heavy track and was still too good. I think that will help him run the 1200m even though we've never had a query about it," Duggan said.
"He meets a pretty smart one in Haut Brion Her but he's ready to go and we are looking forward to the challenge."
"I've got to say I'm pretty happy with the preparation my bloke has had.''
Canberra's leading trainer Matt Dale is also placing a lot on how his impressive filly Notation performs in Saturday's PFD Food Services Handicap (1400m) where she is going for her fourth win in succession.
Notation has had only her last two starts for Dale after a change of ownership, with her overall record now standing at five wins from eight starts.
Dale said Saturday's BM88 over 1400m will define the path he takes with the rising 4YO.
"After Saturday we'll sit down and map out a plan," Dale said.
"We'd like to get black type with her, there's The Kosciuszko and she's also a Magic Millions horse so there are a few options."
In yet another interesting mid-winter clash Notation will meet the talented Ljungberg, a last start Randwick winner for the Ron Quinton stable.
Notation and Ljungberg are line to be crowned the BOBS Horse of the Year as they have each earned over $56,000 in BOBs bonuses this season and can overatyke the leader River Bird ($73,175) with another bonus collect on Saturday.
