3 minute read
An autumn carnival tilt beckons emerging stayer Naval College if he can pass a weight carrying test in Friday’s Listed $200,000 Inglis Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm.
The import jumps 5.5kg on his easy win in the January Cup two weeks ago, where he smashed the Rosehill 2000m track record, and trainer Annabel Neasham said on Sky Sports Radio she sees no reason why he can't take the next step.
"He's up in distance again, and up in the weights of course, but the way he won the other day you'd certainly be hoping he could be tough to beat again,'' Neasham said.
"What was really pleasing, they obviously went really quick the other day, was he just seemed to absorb the pressure really well and that's a sign of a good stayer.
"He's bred to go around a couple of laps that's for sure and hopefully he can keep progressing into an autumn carnival horse."
James Mcdonald takes over the ride on Naval College who if successful with 58.5kg would join only two other horses to have carried more than 56kg to win the Australia Day Cup in the last 20 years.
They are Travolta, who scored in 2014 with 59kg, and warhorse Destiny's Kiss who won in 2016 with the same weight then backed up a year later to win under 59.5kg.
Neasham said the gelding came through his last start win well and has again been favoured by the barrier gods.
"We haven't done much with him because that was a good gallop for him that day,'' she said.
"He looks great, he's a beautiful horse, he had an easy piece of work on Tuesday and really pleased us.
"He's got a really nice racing pattern, he's been afforded good barriers most of the time which always helps."
Stablemate Regal Lion finished 10 lengths behind Naval College in the January Cup and Neasham said she can only hope he puts his best foot forward.
"He's been hard to catch, he's been a frustrating horse since he won the Ipswich Cup,'' she said.
"He's certainly got the ability, I think the other day the really hot tempo didn't suit him. On his home track and back to 2400m will suit as well."
Neasham is keen to see what two-year-old Deputize produces on debut in the Join ATC Membership Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday on the back of a strong trial win a couple of weeks ago.
The colt was given a solid test by Regan Bayliss in his latest trial and Neasham is pleased she waited a week to kick him off.
"He was going to run last weekend but he drew wide. It's nice we have a gate with him,'' she said.
"Regan seems to be wining every two-year-old race every Saturday at the moment, mainly for Adrian and Gai, but hopefully he can jump on one of mine and get the job done because he's a horse we have a lot of time for."
Annabel Neasham on Manbehindthemoney (Randwick race 6): "He went up to Brisbane, he ran well there with a big weight but it's nice to get him back to Sydney. He had a tickover trial the other day which was very good."
On Aristonous (race 6): "He got caught three wide no cover the whole way the other day, I thought it was a huge run considering the trip he had. Hopefully he can have a cosier run which he should from that draw and he's a horse we have a good opinion of."
