Ivory coasting, now on track for cups bid
Classique Ivory has been aimed at the AHA, Bunbury and Pinjarra cups after missing the Perth Cup because of a hoof abscess.
Ascot trainer Gino Poletti had to abort a January 1 preparation for the son of Savabeel when the five-year-old was found to be sore, after his fifth to Moonlight Bay in the Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) on November 9.
Classique Ivory gave Poletti one of his biggest thrills when he held out Starlight Lady in the Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) in September.
Classique Ivory was penalised nine points for his Kalgoorlie Cup win and is rated at 87.
"The abscess knocked on the head any hopes we had for the Perth Cup," Poletti said.
"He is a good winter horse on the softer tracks and he should be suited on the Bunbury and Pinjarra tracks.
"I have got him back right and he should race first-up over a mile on February 1.
"With his rating, he should get into the cups somewhere in the middle of the weights."
The $100,000 AHA Cup (2000m) at Bunbury on March 2 is foll- owed by the $110,000 Bunbury Cup (2200m) 11 days later and the $100,000 Carlton Draught Pinjarra Cup (2300m) run on March 30.
·Jockey Jason Brown kept boom three-year-old Petrol Power under a tight hold at his return in a 1000m barrier trial at Belmont Park yesterday.
Petrol Power cruised to a two-length victory as he builds up to next month's $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Ascot on February 15.
Petrol Power's owner Sam Trimboli had last year's $190,000 Perth yearling, Masarari (Testa Rossa-Tantra Dancer) and Adelaide sales graduate Tirreno warm up with smart wins over 400m and 1000m respectively for the $250,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) on the same day.
·The Narrogin Race Club yesterday had its track passed for racing to resume for Sunday's thoroughbred-harness meeting.
The NRC lost its first two meetings because a section of the grass at the top end of the straight had not consolidated.
"The blocked grass has grown well and the track looks super," Racing and Wagering WA racing manager David Hunter said after a track inspection with stewards yesterday.
·Paul King will be sidelined for the next six weeks after surgery to repair a broken kneecap.
King's knee slammed into the side of the barriers at Kembla Grange on Saturday and he was operated on 24 hours later.
"My knee hit the partition quite hard," King said.
"I knew I had busted the kneecap."
"He is a good winter horse … he should be suited on the Bunbury and Pinjarra tracks.""Classique Ivory's trainer *Gino Poletti *
