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Newnham depending on tempo to aid Choisir Duo

3 minute read

Trainer Mark Newnham is banking on what looks to be a generous tempo in Tuesday’s $160,000 Bentley Choisir Stakes (1100m) at Randwick to bring his duo of Lord Olympus and Blazing Miss into play in the feature sprint.

Trainer : MARK NEWNHAM
Trainer : MARK NEWNHAM  Picture: Racing and Sports

Both horses have been set for the race for differing reasons – in Lord Olympus's case it's the perfect target at this stage of his preparation while for Blazing Miss it'll be a springboard back into stakes company.

Newnham said Lord Olympus was always going to be vulnerable at 1200m last start, where he was beaten four lengths by Quantico under 60kg, so back 100m and with 5kg less are major pluses.

"I still expected him to run a good race although it was a very solid run 1200m, so he was always going to find it a little bit testing,'' Newnham said.

"I think he will enjoy coming back in trip in a high pressure race. He just needs to get dragged into the race any time from the 600m.

"If he gets clear air once they straighten up he'll be hard to hold out."

The one small concern for Newnham is that the gelding would prefer is little more forgiving surface than the good 3 track at his last start and more like the soft 5 he found to his liking when winning over 1000m at Warwick Farm a month ago.

"He probably found the track a bit firm and that may be to be his detriment on Tuesday,'' he said.

"I think he is better off coming back in trip and he's well in a race like that."

Lord Olympus was $14 with TAB on Monday while stablemate Blazing Miss sat on the $13 line at her first run since she finished fifth in the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton in July.

The mare ran third in the Choisir last year on a wet track behind former stablemate Invictus Salute and Newnham expects her to use barrier one to enjoy a nice run just off the speed.

"She's come back very well, her trials have been fantastic,'' he said.

"But there'll be no chance of her leading with that pace in the race. She enjoys a bit of room, from barrier one that may be a bit tricky because she is a big mare.

"She ran well in this race last year and she'll progress to stakes races after this."

Newnham said Blazing Miss will tackle either the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on November 27 or a stakes race in Queensland on the same day.

"It's nice to have a feature race on this day at Randwick. It's good prizemoney and it gives a good progression to some Listed races coming up,'' he said.

Alysha Collett rides Blazing Miss while Robbie Dolan again partners Lord Olympus.


Racing and Sports

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