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Algernon hasn’t been the easiest horse to train, just ask his trainer Imogen Miller.
Connections were hoping to get the gelding to the Newmarket Handicap though interruptions to his preparation were costly, but he should emerge in Hobart on Sunday and attempt to make it back-to-back wins in the Winzenberg Quality Trophy over 1100 metres.
Illness interrupted his Newmarket preparation but with that issue in the rear view mirror it should be clean sailing towards another interstate trip following Sunday's assignment.
"I wasn't happy with his trial a couple of weeks before the Newmarket, so we took some blood and it showed he had a virus," Imogen Miller said.
"He took a bit longer to recover so he wasn't ready for the Newmarket."
Algernon is one of those horses that stays under the radar and while his profile might be cloaked, his statistics are outstanding as he has started only 12 times for six wins and a minor placing for $165,000 in stakes.
The five-year-old hasn't started since returning from Melbourne where he had two starts for encouraging performances at Caulfield and Moonee Valley in July-August.
"We've got in the back of our mind to take him back to Melbourne, but we haven't got any set plans at this stage, although the new race on Devonport Cup Day (Carpet Charge over 1009m) is a possibility."
All of Algernon;s career wins have been in Hobart, so needless to say Miller regards Sunday's assignment as "very winnable."
The race has attracted a great field with former Newmarket Handicap winner Gee Gee Secondover a deserved top weight with 60.5kg, but that has been counteracted with three kilogram-claiming apprentice Taylor Johnstone booked to ride and he has drawn ideally in gate three.
Liffeybeau looks the likely leader although Julius is also engaged, and both of these have early speed to burn.
Glenn Stevenson-trained Music Addition has a good record in Hobart and will find this a lot easier than the Newmarket in which he finished almost six lengths from the winner.
The best bet on the eight-race card looks to be the John Luttrell-trained Steel Mist that lines up in the Wellington Cricket Club Maiden over 1100 metres.
The five-year-old comes off a game second to the highly promising Geegees Gemstone in an 1100-metre maiden in Launceston 10 days ago.
The gelded son of Toronado was held up at a crucial stage but worked home well to be taking ground off the winner over the concluding stages.
