The unpredictable Melbourne weather has prompted trainer Michael Shepherdson to divert his attention to Adelaide, where he intends to compete with a pair of horses at Morphettville Parks.
Shepherdson, operating out of Geelong, has entered My Zephyr for the Mimi’s Fast Fillies Handicap over 1250 metres and Real Heir for the Beyond Bank Handicap over 1000 metres, both scheduled for Saturday’s racing.
My Zephyr was also initially nominated for the HKJC World Pool Grand Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday, but Shepherdson stated that the forecast for rain in Melbourne was the principal reason for the change of plans.
“It’s a much easier race over in Adelaide and there looks like there could be some rain in Melbourne on Saturday,” Shepherdson commented. “She’s better on drier ground and third-up, blinkers on, we’re hoping it’s the right ingredients for her.”
He continued, “She didn’t have a lot of room or a lot of luck last start at Geelong and we think third-up she’s close to her peak. We’ve left the blinkers off in her first couple and thinking third-up it might be the time to strike with them on.”
Real Heir, who recently broke his maiden status at Yarra Valley, will also make the journey to Adelaide, with Shepherdson anticipating that the trip will prove beneficial for the gelding.
“He’s always shown good talent,” Shepherdson remarked. “He’s probably typical of the Hanseatics, they’ve got plenty of speed as young horses, but they’re probably not strong, or mentally strong, and he’s needed a bit of time.”
Shepherdson further explained, “He’s come back really well after a good spell. He ran well at Ballarat and pretty much dominated at Yarra Valley last start. He is a bold, strong horse, more so on the ground than riding him, and we feel a trip away will further develop him as well.”
“It’s a logical step after winning your maiden to aim for a zero to 64, and a metro race in Adelaide is a good, logical step.”
Although Shepherdson investigated the possibility of racing at his home track in Geelong on Saturday, he is no stranger to travelling to Adelaide.
With the weather conditions in Melbourne remaining uncertain, he decided that an interstate excursion was the most prudent course of action.
“It’s good prize money over there for the quality of horse they are,” Shepherdson observed. “You are going over to a race where there might be five or six chances, whereas you run in the same sort of quality race in Melbourne, and there will be 10 or 12 chances. It’s a good opportunity for them in something a bit easier.”
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