3 minute read
While rising Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib welcomed educated advice from Willie Pike for fancied King Of Spades, she has included dual-winning stable mate Blood River in the equation at far longer odds for a TAB Highway at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
While the barrier draws deflated Danielle Seib, Blood River (16) and King Of Spades (12) are certain to come in several slots after scratchings and inside draws for three emergencies into a $120,000 Class 3 (1400m).
The gelding ran three consecutive seconds in TAB Highways in September and October, the latest with Pike on board over 1800m at Randwick, and Seib has booked in-form apprentice Zac Lloyd.
"After Willie rode him for those close seconds, he told me to put a claimer on, might just make the difference up in weight for his consistency - so hopefully," offered Danielle, who is operating on a productive 21% winning strike rate and increasing numbers.
"It's a bonus getting Zac and the confidence of riding city winners."
King of Spades ($6.50) was weighted on 56.5kg before Zac's 2kg claim and Blood River ($13) on 54kg for Tyler Schiller who has outridden his claim.
She said King of Spades is the ideal mix of tough on pace consistency.
"He's ticking over perfectly, where we want him after a let-up, three seconds have been frustrating,'' Seib said.
"But there's that nice level of prizemoney most times he goes around. The 1400m is ideal from a let-up off 1600m and 1800m races and he's won first up.
"This was a target race after we gave him time off. He just seems to find one better.
"Highways are always tough to get a read on. But probably no harder than previously when he's looked he winner.
"We'll see how the speed map reads but the intention from that gate is to go forward. Let him roll in his comfort zone."
Blood River has been impressive with Goulburn and Canberra wins and primed by a recent winning trial at home.
"He's really progressive, put them away easily his last win and trialled really well since and ran time,'' she said.
"The 1400m is the query and obviously the barrier up in grade off 1200m and 1300m wins. But he has the makings of a nice horse."
King of Spades was previously with John O'Shea.
"As you'd expect from that stable, he's educated and straight forward to train. And his consistency has been a been a joy for owners from down here and Sydney."
Scone's Cameron Crockett, on a brilliant Highway streak, again has the favourite in Super Extreme ($4.80) off a dominant last start Highway win at headquarters ridden by James McDonald.
With the champion rider absent Brenton Avdulla is the replacement and he has the same 56kg rising to a Class 3 off a Class 2 win. Headquarters will race on a good four track in fine weather.
