The entries of Jimmysstar and Giga Kick into this Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap have boosted the chances of Tentyris lining up in the contest, though not all connections are celebrating the development.
Trainer John McArdle of My Gladiola would prefer to steer clear of another battle against the high-profile colt, who previously relegated the talented filly to second place in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Black Caviar Lightning.
The trainer from Mornington plans to review the weight allocations and observe how his key stable runner fares during her key gallop on Tuesday morning prior to confirming her participation in the 1200-metre Group 1 event at Flemington.
“We’ll see what he (Tentyris) does and if she doesn’t go to the Newmarket then she’d go to Sydney and trial up there and go to The Galaxy,” McArdle said.
“I’m 90 percent sure she will run, but there are always factors to consider. We’ll see how she gallops in the morning and see what the field comes up like.”
Craig Williams is confirmed to ride My Gladiola, who drew 50.5kg upon the release of Newmarket Handicap weights late Monday afternoon.
Tentyris received 57kg, a touch higher than anticipated given Jimmysstar’s 60kg allocation – 1kg above the topweight minimum from nominations.
Further up the weights scale are Giga Kick on 59kg, likely heading to Sydney’s Challenge Stakes, alongside Baraqiel at 57.5kg, and Joliestar and War Machine both on 57kg.
A boost for the My Gladiola camp comes from the I Am Invincible daughter getting 4.5kg better terms against Tentyris than in her 2-1/4-length loss in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and 5kg better off her three-quarters-of-a-length defeat in the Lightning.
“We obviously had the two kilos in the Coolmore and then a kilo-and-a-half in the Lightning because Jamie (Mott) rode her a half over,” McArdle said.
“But it’ll be more like five or six kilos in the Newmarket, so that is a factor, but he is a very, very good horse.”
Tentyris leads all-in betting at $1.90 among online bookmakers for the Newmarket, with My Gladiola joint at $8 alongside Chris Waller’s Angel Capital, set to shoulder 56.5kg.
The Newmarket Handicap joins the All-Star Mile as one of two $2 million Group 1 races at Flemington this Saturday, the latter drawing 15 nominations including Pride Of Jenni, Treasurethe Moment, Tom Kitten, Stefi Magnetica and Antino.
Explore the latest racing betting markets for the Newmarket Handicap and secure the best value on Tentyris or My Gladiola.