Essington’s new Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds will take a wait-and-see approach before deciding the talented sprinter’s immediate future.
Essington and jockey Chris Munce will be reunited when the five-year-old returns following a short break in Saturday’s AAMI Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Essington was trained by Darryl Hansen for most of his career but was transferred to Troy Hall to allow him to start in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben in December following former Mackay trainer Hansen’s disqualification.
The son of Redoute’s Choice finished an unlucky eighth to My Destiny after being held up for a run in the Lough Neagh before the gelding’s owners transferred him to Edmonds.
Edmonds nominated Essington for the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday but backed away from sending him down for the weight-for-age feature.
“I threw a nomination in for the Expressway just to see the strength of the race,” Edmonds said.
“It’s turned out to be a very strong race so I’ve decided to run him at Eagle Farm.”
Edmonds is in no rush and under no pressure to campaign Essington in Sydney during the autumn.
“The owners would like to take him down to Sydney but we’ll work it all out after Saturday,” Edmonds said.
“I’d like to see him get down in the weights a bit more as the only options he has right now are in Group and Listed races.”
Edmonds expects a strong showing from Essington despite his lack of solid recent racing.
“He’s going well and he should run a good race,” Edmonds said.
“He’s got good performances in this type of class and we’ve had Chris Munce locked in for some time to ride him.”
Edmonds has several options available with Essington who is likely to have his next start in the Listed Falvelon Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on February 25.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet about taking him to Sydney or even waiting for the Brisbane winter carnival,” he said.
“I just want to wait and see how he goes on Saturday then we’ll work things out from there.”
Essington stamped himself as a potential carnival sprinter, winning the Falvelon Quality last year and the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm last July.
