A lack of suitable races in his home state has prompted Murray Bridge-based trainer Darryl Hewitt to seek opportunities in Caulfield with two of his gallopers.
The consistent Sir Now is headed for the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) this Saturday, while Snoopy Now will contest the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1700m) carrying topweight.
Hewitt stated that interstate travel was necessitated, particularly for Sir Now, who has been carrying significant weights in races within his home state.
Sir Now, a winner of nine of his 24 starts with eight placings and over $400,000 in prize money, had been assigned weights of up to 65kg in recent outings before the claim of apprentice Alysha Warren.
“He can’t race here because there’s no races for him,” Hewitt commented.
“He’s running around 65 kilos on his back, but he’s been pretty honest all the way through.”
“Ideally you would stay in your own backyard as he’s been pretty competitive, but he deserves a chance over there.”
“The track is going to be a soft five or six come Saturday, but he can handle heavy going, if it goes that way, and he comes down four-and-a-half or five kilos on his last run.”
Punters have shown support for Sir Now, with his odds shortening from $15 to $6.50 in early betting.
Hewitt is no stranger to Victorian racing, having been based out of Benalla approximately 20 years ago with a small number of horses – Merlot Now and Sparkling Now – who were similar types to the two horses competing at Caulfield on Saturday.
Merlot Now outgrew the Adelaide racing scene due to his rating, a situation Hewitt noted is currently happening again with Sir Now.
This will be Sir Now’s second trip to Melbourne, having previously finished fifth at Flemington over 1000m on VRC Oaks Day.
“They came home pretty quick that day and we went over thinking it was going to be a wet track and it ended up being a Good 3, and he finished not far behind Rey Magnerio.”
“He won’t disgrace himself over there on Saturday.”
Senior rider Connor Murtagh will replace Warren for Saturday’s race.
Stablemate Snoopy Now is coming off a recent win in a benchmark 78 race and will be ridden by the in-form apprentice Jackson Radley.
Hewitt expressed concerns about Snoopy Now facing Melbourne opposition given the weight the horse is assigned to carry.
“It’s like the SANFL over here, against the AFL over there, and we’re getting rated the same,” Hewitt remarked.
“He’s taking an 85 rating over there against other 85 rated horses that are racing against better quality week in, week out.”
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