For Canberra trainer Gratz Vella, the three-year-old gelding Music Time has already delivered the career highlight.
In his inaugural campaign, the son of All Too Hard clinched the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m), Canberra’s premier two-year-old race, and followed up with a strong third in the nation’s top juvenile event, the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Vella now has his sights set on Sydney’s elite three-year-old races, with Music Time slated to make his return in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
Music Time received a solid workout when finishing second in his sole trial over 1040m on August 14th, and Vella is confident this was sufficient preparation for a competitive showing on Saturday.
“I said to Tommy Berry before his trial ‘he hasn’t had too much, a couple of nice gallops and one jump out, just go easy with him today and it’s only going to benefit him,” Vella stated.
“And he come back in and said ‘Gratz, this horse is a lot more forward that what you think he is.'”
“He’s come on very well from his two-year-old season, especially since that barrier trial. He had a good gallop Tuesday morning with one of my senior horses and matched strides with him, the jockey came in and said how good he was.”
While initially considering The Kosciuszko (1200m), a race for country-trained horses, a conversation with the Racing New South Wales Handicapper has prompted Vella to aim higher, setting Music Time on a path towards the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
“I rang up the handicapper and I asked him about the Kosciuszko and for a three-year-old, he’d be carrying 60 kilos,” Vella explained.
“So I think that’s out of our picture. But I think if he goes well this weekend, by all means, we’ll just keep heading for the three-year-old races.”
“Who’s to say he can’t make it in a Golden Rose, because the horse’s he’s racing this weekend were mainly in the Golden Slipper and he didn’t finish too far away from the winner.”
Music Time, with Kerrin Mcevoy in the saddle, is currently priced at $15 for Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes, while Golden Slipper victor Guest House is the favourite at $2.80.
For the best odds on the San Domenico Stakes, check out these Australian betting sites.