All eyes on Travinator
There's no doubt he's the best horse racing at Ascot today, but can Travinator make a successful return from two throat operations?
"He's doing everything right at this stage," trainer Dan Pearce said.
"I don't think we'll see the same horse as before the problems, but hopefully we can get him back to being competitive."
Once rated an heir apparent to star sprinter Barakey, Travinator has not raced since finishing at the tail of the field in the 2012 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
The explosive speedster was first operated on 12 months ago to correct a breathing problem. He need another procedure late last year to improve the airflow through the back of his throat.
Despite the complications, Travinator hasn't lost his blistering speed if his trials are any indication. The five-year-old scored comfortable wins in two 950m trials at Lark Hill, scorching the turf in a slick 55.28sec., last month and 55.72 on April 7.
"His times were quick and what I liked about them was the way he ran through the line," Pearce said. "His trackwork also points in the right direction. It's just a matter of producing under race-day pressure."
A winner at seven of 10 starts, Travinator has drawn barrier two for today's perthracing. org.au Handicap (1000m) and will be ridden by apprentice Chanelle O'Grady, whose claim reduces Travinator's weight to 60kg.
Meanwhile, classy filly Big Caroline will tackle today's Westspeed Nursery Handicap (1200m) after a minor setback ruled her out of the WA Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
Big Caroline ran an eye-catching fifth in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m), but missed the Group 3 feature a week ago because of a cut to a hoof.
"She was 95 per cent but we didn't want to risk her," trainer Simon Foster said.
"She's a really nice filly. Her and Molto Allegro look the two standouts. We'll give her this run and then tip her out."
·Trainer Steve Wolfe's quest for a fourth win in the $90,000 XXXX Gold Albany Cup (2100m) tomorrow has hit a snag, with Mr Utopia forced to carry the 60.5kg topweight.
Wolfe has prepared Try A Tune (2007), Impact Rating (2008) and Jobeth (2012) to Albany Cup victories. But he believes Mr Utopia's big weight and lack of experience at the distance could bring him undone.
"He's never run over longer than 1800 and that is a lot of weight to carry," Wolfe said.
"I don't think we'll see the same horse as before … but hopefully we can get him … competitive." "Trainer *Dan Pearce *
