Entries from Jimmysstar and Giga Kick for the upcoming Newmarket Handicap on Saturday have heightened the probability of Tentyris participating, yet the news isn’t universally welcomed.
The trainer of My Gladiola, John McArdle, would gladly sidestep another confrontation with the elite colt who twice forced the skilled filly into the runner-up position in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Black Caviar Lightning.
Mornington’s McArdle will evaluate the weights and assess his stable ace’s form in Tuesday’s main gallop before committing to the Group 1 1200-metre feature at Flemington.
“We’ll see what he (Tentyris) does and if she doesn’t go to the Newmarket then she’d go to Sydney and trial up there and go to The Galaxy,” McArdle said.
“I’m 90 percent sure she will run, but there are always factors to consider. We’ll see how she gallops in the morning and see what the field comes up like.”
Craig Williams is secured aboard My Gladiola, who was handed 50.5kg in the Newmarket Handicap weights unveiled late Monday.
Tentyris drew 57kg, marginally above predictions due to Jimmysstar’s 60kg – 1kg past the nomination topweight threshold.
High in the weights are Giga Kick at 59kg, set for the Challenge Stakes in Sydney, Baraqiel on 57.5kg, and Joliestar with War Machine both at 57kg.
Good tidings for Team My Gladiola as the I Am Invincible filly concedes 4.5kg less to Tentyris than in her 2-1/4-length Coolmore Stud Stakes beating, and 5kg less than the three-quarters-of-a-length Lightning margin.
“We obviously had the two kilos in the Coolmore and then a kilo-and-a-half in the Lightning because Jamie (Mott) rode her a half over,” McArdle said.
“But it’ll be more like five or six kilos in the Newmarket, so that is a factor, but he is a very, very good horse.”
Tentyris holds $1.90 all-in favouritism via online bookmakers for the Newmarket, My Gladiola at $8 tied with Waller’s 56.5kg Angel Capital.
Flemington hosts two $2 million Group 1s this Saturday: the Newmarket Handicap and the All-Star Mile, featuring 15 runners such as Pride Of Jenni, Treasurethe Moment, Tom Kitten, Stefi Magnetica and Antino.
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