Trainer Tom Dabernig is anticipating a significant return to Caulfield for Oliveanotherday this Sunday, with the Manikato Stakes on the agenda. However, the Warrnambool-based conditioner has a minor concern heading into the four-year-old’s Group 1 debut.
The gelding enters the $2 million event following his least successful performance to date, a fifth place in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington on September 12. His initial experience with the straight course was identified as the primary reason for that outcome.
Dabernig suggested that another element might have influenced the result, something Oliveanotherday could potentially encounter again this weekend in the 1200-metre weight-for-age race.
“I think it was just a case of straight first time and Good 3 track,” Dabernig stated.
“I’m not totally blaming the Good 3, but I’m sure that he’s best runs for me have been on softer going.”
He added, “He’s been very good here at Caulfield, so I’m just hoping that back at Caulfield he’ll accelerate off the bend and third-up be better than he was second-up.”
“He was only beaten 1.6 lengths and the winner came from the inside, the horses in the centre didn’t figure too much, so it might have been a combination of things.”
“But, I must admit, a Good 3 track would be my concern.”
Oliveanotherday boasts an impressive record, having won six of his nine starts, with two victories occurring on Good 4 surfaces. The Bobbie Lewis Quality marked his first outing on a Good 3 track.
Caulfield, a venue where Oliveanotherday has secured two wins on the main course and one on the Heath track, was upgraded to a Good 3 during last Saturday’s race meeting. Dabernig is hopeful that the forecast of light showers on Saturday will materialise after warm conditions on Thursday and Friday.
Despite the disappointment of Oliveanotherday’s five-race winning streak concluding at Flemington, Dabernig believes the experience against seasoned sprinters will prove beneficial before he faces established Group 1 contenders such as Beiwacht, Jimmysstar, and Giga Kick this weekend.
“The winner of that race has win six times down the straight and they’re all six and seven-year-olds and we’re only a four-year-old and only lightly-raced,” Dabernig commented.
“So, we were inexperienced and there were all those other factors there, so when you reflect on it all, there were probably reasons (for the result).”
The final field for the Manikato Stakes, alongside other races on the program including Pride Of Jenni’s bid for a third consecutive victory in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes, will be confirmed on Wednesday morning. Before the major races unfold, explore the latest Australian betting sites for competitive racing odds.
