Trainer Tony Gollan has been forced to go to Plan B after wet weather meant the scratching of stable stars I’m A Rippa and Ef Troop from Doomben.
I’m A Rippa was set to resume in Saturday’s Listed Ascot Quality while Ef Troop was to make his return in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate.
Gollan had indicated he would not run either on a genuinely wet track so the die was cast when Doomben received 25mm of rain for the week and was rated a soft seven.
It got even worse as the day went on and the last two races were abandoned after the track had been down graded to heavy 10.
“As it turned out it was the right decision.” Gollan said.
“I would have had to scratch them later anyway.
“I’m A Rippa has won on a soft track but he is much better on top of the ground. I didn’t want to give him a gut buster first-up and the option has always been there for the Group Two Victory Stakes on Saturday.
“I know Redzel is coming but I’m A Rippa won’t be out of place in a weight-for-age race like that on a dry track.”
“Eagle Farm is such a good drying track that it should perfect for I’m A Rippa.”
Gollan said Ef Troop had proved a “duffer” on wet tracks on two occasions.
“He has been placed on the soft but his two worst runs were on wet ground. He has trialled well and is going nicely but again I didn’t want to ruin his campaign but running on a wet track first up.”
Gollan has the option of giving Ef Troop another trial before the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas on May 4.
“The Guineas suits him and we can press on from there,” he said.
Dual Group One winner and twice victorious in The Everest, Redzel heads the 11 nominations for the Victory Stakes (1200m).
Redzel has not won in three runs this campaign, finishing midfield in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at his most recent start on April 6.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au