Graham Richardson is confident Single Minded will stay 3200m at some stage in his career, but he’s not sure if he will in Wednesday’s Auckland Cup.
Single Minded is second favourite at $6 on the TAB fixed odds market for the $500,000 Group One race after two Group Two wins in his last three starts.
Those were both at Ellerslie, in the City of Auckland Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day and the Avondale Cup (2400m) on February 18, and were both won after settling near the front and galloping strongly to the line.
“I know that two miles (3200m) won’t be an issue at some stage of his life, but he’s only a four-year-old now so that’s the question mark,” Richardson, who trains at Matamata, said.
“The horse has only had 11 races. Some of the other horses have been racing a lot longer. They’re fully developed horses.”
Single Minded faces a useful field including two dual Group One winners, Shez Sinsational and Booming, along with last year’s winner Titch and the improving Options.
“I’m feeling good about his chances and he’s very fit but it is a strong field. There’s a couple of very good horses in the race,” Richardson said.
Richardson also gives a chance to his other runner Top Spot who was third to Single Minded in the City of Auckland Cup before two unlucky unplaced runs.
“At her last start she got checked by one of my other horses in the race, and in the Wellington Cup she got stuck on the fence in the worst of the ground,” he said.
“I’d love to see a bit of rain but she’ll go the two miles.”
Shez Sinsational is the $3.50 favourite for the race and her trainer Allan Sharrock is hoping for a victory so she can qualify for the Melbourne Cup later this year.