Peter Robl will have to call on his experience as a jockey on Saturday, because he won’t be able to call on his experience aboard any of his seven mounts.
With several of Sydney’s top riders in Melbourne for the Newmarket Handicap meeting, Robl has picked up some handy rides at Warwick Farm.
He will be partnering all of them for the first time under race conditions, but he won’t be going in blind.
“I’ve done the form and they all look good chances,” Robl said.
“I think they’re an even bunch on paper but I’m looking forward to riding More Strawberries.”
More Strawberries has been scratched from the Listed Wiggle Stakes to take on the boys in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m).
The Gai Waterhouse-trained mare tuned up for her return with two recent barrier trials and has won first-up.
“I’ve got a lot of time for her,” Robl said.
“She goes quite well and she trialled nicely.
“It looks a nice race. There should be a genuine tempo with horses like Neeson and she is drawn to get a nice run behind the speed.”
More Strawberries will be one of two Cup runners for Waterhouse along with Fast Clip to be ridden by Tommy Berry.
Chris Waller also has multiple entries but just which of them line up depends on whether the track remains heavy.
Both Firebolt and Snow Alert are also engaged at Canberra on Sunday while Waller is considering Newcastle’s Newmarket Handicap on March 21 as a fallback for Triple Elegance.
“Triple Elegance, as he’s got older, has shown a dislike for wet tracks,” Waller said.
“Snow Alert just hates them with a passion. He’s in at Canberra as well and he’s likely to go there.
“Firebolt’s there as well but I’m leaning towards Warwick Farm with him.”
Waller and Robl will team up with Rangirangdoo in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Little Surfer Girl in the Wiggle (1400m).
Robl’s other mounts include the Peter Snowden-trained pair of juvenile Narcissus in the Schweppes Plate (1100m) and Detours in the Group Two Surround Stakes (1400m).
The only race Robl won’t ride in is the second with his mount, Coliseo, an early scratching.
