Trainer Chris Waller has declared that Dealmaker is ready to step up to the 2000m of the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday despite missing a run in the lead up.
Thinkin’ Big, above, is the favourite for the 2018 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waller has to ease back on Dealmaker when he developed a temperature after being nosed out when second to Tarka in the Group 2 $200,000 The Daily Telegraph Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 8 and missed running in the Group 3 $200,000 360DMG Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on September 22.
Dealmaker has recovered and was kept up to the mark with a barrier trial at Randwick last Friday and Waller can’t see why the Dundeel colt can’t emulate his sire who won the Spring Champion Stakes in 2012.
“He’s had a chequered preparation,” Waller told AAP.
“He had a slightly elevated temperature and went to the paddock for a few days but has since returned a normal blood profile and has trialled since.
“His trial last week was good and he’s a handy horse.
“I don’t think 2000 metres will be a problem and he’s coming out of the right form lines.”
The prospect of a wet Randwick track doesn’t bother Waller after Dealmaker handle the rain affected ground when second on a heavy 8 surface in the Stan Fox Stakes.
“That was a tough 1500 metres on a wet track so 2000 metres should be no problem,” Waller said.
Waller had to search for a new jockey for Dealmaker after his Stan Fox Stakes partner Hugh Bowman was required to ride his super star stablemate Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday and fortunately for the leading trainer her was able to secure the services of three times Melbourne Cup winning jockey Damien Oliver.
“We shot ourself in the foot a bit with Hugh And Kerrin (McEvoy) being in Melbourne and our other regular riders were booked,” Waller told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We rang Damien and he was happy to come for a good ride in a Group 1.
“We have supported him with a couple of other rides on Saturday and I think he could have a good day.”
Dealmaker has drawn barrier eleven in the Spring Champion Stakes field that has already been reduced to twelve runners following the early scratching of the James Cummings trained Cloak.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Spring Champion Stakes has Dealmaker on the second line at $7 behind the $3.50 favourite Thinkin’ Big.
The market order is then very crowded with Aramayo at $7.50, Tarka at $8, Frankely Awesome at $9 and Mickey Blue Eyes at $9.50.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Thinkin’ Big looks the one to beat after leading all of the way for a first up win in the Gloaming Stakes.
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