The team from Morphettville led by Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle hold a Plan B ready if showers materialise across the weekend as predicted.
They have nominated Tapinforpar for The Dominant Advantage Handicap (1400m) over Morphettville Parks track this Saturday, although Richards views the weather prognosis unfavourably.
Assuming the rain does come, Richards stated Tapinforpar is set to be scratched in favour of the Murray Bridge program a Saturday hence.
Nevertheless, current arrangements target Saturday, with Richards reporting the gelding in excellent shape for his 1400m tilt.
“This prep has been really good,” Richards said.
“He won first-up over 1200 (metres) at Gawler and then I thought he was caught in the wrong part of track second up and it could have been a bit of the ‘old’ second-up syndrome as well, but he didn’t get beaten very far.
He ran well the other day, but being a big horse, he had trouble negotiating through the field and then he dived late.”
Richards allowed that Tapinforpar may fare better on Morphettville’s more open expanse than at Parks, but appreciates the 1400m.
“We’ve got him out over a mile a couple of times and he tends to over-race early and then doesn’t have the finish,” Richards said.
“The only place they have 1400-metre races is at Murray Bridge or the inner track here at Morphettville.
Murray Bridge is alright, he has raced well up there before, and our intentions were if he didn’t draw a barrier this week, we would go to the Bridge next week.
He’s drawn a good barrier, but having said that, I don’t know what’s going to happen with the rain.
It might throw everyone’s plans into confusion.”
As Richards put it, Tapinforpar’s last preparation fell short, owing to damp surfaces.
Now, Tapinforpar has regained his dependable streak this campaign, poised for a win to breach $300,000 prizemoney.
Richards persists with jockey Connor Murtagh after his first mount on the gelding last start.
“He’s consistent, but you seem to go up in the ratings when you run seconds or thirds without getting a picture on the wall,” Richards said.
“We’ve stuck with Connor because he rode him well the other day and the horse seemed to respond to him and he’s learned a bit about the horse also.
We’re hoping that will pay a dividend.”
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