Victoria desperately requires rainfall, yet Bendigo handler Tim Fitzsimmons hopes it stays away before Onesmoothoperator contests at Flemington.
The ex-UK runner Onesmoothoperator lines up in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) this Saturday, provided the surface isn’t overly saturated.
Triumph in the Saturday feature grants the victor a ballot waiver for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington come November.
Onesmoothoperator marks his second outing under Fitzsimmons’ care, previously handled by British mentor Brian Ellison, and leaps directly from 1600m to 2600m this weekend.
Fitzsimmons noted a key lesson from Onesmoothoperator’s initial appearance for the yard: the mile distance proved far too brief, with the gelding ending ninth behind Birdman in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on February 28.
The conditioner had previously suggested eyeing the Australian Cup (2000m), staged on Saturday too, but post Blamey Stakes effort deemed even 2000m insufficient.
“They were too sharp over the mile and there was no speed either which didn’t help,” Fitzsimmons said.
“It’s a lot better race for him on Saturday up to his preferred sort of distance and I think he’s trained on from the other day as well.
“He’s done a heap of work since. However, I am worried about the weather. If it rains, and it’s any worse than a Soft 5, then I’ll probably scratch him.
“He doesn’t go a yard on it, and I don’t want to waste runs with him.”
Fitzsimmons mentioned that based on Saturday’s result, potential upcoming targets include the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11 or the Mornington Cup (2400m) on April 18.
A win in the Mornington Cup would secure Onesmoothoperator a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.
“There is the Mornington Cup or even if the weather forecast looks OK in Sydney, he could go straight to the Sydney Cup,” Fitzsimmons said.
“He’s the sort of horse that can do that which we saw when he won first-up in the Moonee Valley Cup in the spring.
“The ultimate aim is the Caulfield Cup in the spring, but there are not many races around for him, and unfortunately a lot are going to be dictated by the weather.”
Check the latest racing betting markets ahead of Onesmoothoperator in the Roy Higgins at Flemington.
