3 minute read

Trainer Glenn Stevenson is hoping the barrier gods are smiling when the final fields are released for Friday night’s Moonee Valley meeting on Wednesday.

In Brief

• War Correspondent dual nominated at Moonee
• Valley.955m scamper the preference.
• Trial numbers ramping up ahead of grass return.

Following an impressive trial win in Devonport on Tuesday, Stevenson's smart sprinter War Correspondent is ready to return to the races having established himself as Tasmania's best three-year-old over the short distances last season.

With limited options on home soil, Stevenson has nominated for a pair of benchmark 84 races at Moonee Valley, one over the 955-metre scamper and the other 1200 metres.

Stevenson says his preference is for the 955m race but will wait until the barrier draw before confirming whether the son of Time For War and Lady Writer heads across Bass Strait.

"He's probably going to be a bit keen for 1200 (metres)," said Stevenson following War Correspondent's trial in Devonport on Tuesday.

"There is supposed to be a bit of weather over there this week so saying that to, we'd want to be drawing a good gate before we make the call," added the trainer.

War Correspondent was a Moonee Valley winner back in March this year where a rails hugging ride from Damian Thornton delivered an impressive victory and Stevenson confirmed that Thornton will again take the reins when the gelding arrives back in Victoria.

"Damian said to aim up and not down following his win back in March and he is booked for the ride again," said Stevenson.

Despite coming through his trial well on Tuesday, Stevenson says he will need to go back to the drawing board if he doesn't accept for this Friday's meeting.

"We want to run him at Moonee Valley while the weather is a bit cooler but with his rating (80) there really aren't a heap of options when you look at it."

Over 30 horses appeared across seven trials in Devonport on Tuesday, many of them eyeing off a return to grass racing on 6 October in Launceston.

Stevenson trialled both Ubriaco and Queen's the Word late in the morning session with each heading towards races early in the night racing season.

"Ubriaco was a soft trial, he needed the hit-out and he will go to a 1200-metre race at Launceston.

"I was shocked how quick they went in Queen's the Word's trial. She's still learning but I think the winner there (GeeGeeluckystar) is a nice horse."