Trainer Clayton Douglas is aiming to mirror last year’s achievement as quick sprinter Title Fighter prepares for action at Flemington.
Title Fighter will line up in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) this Saturday while attempting to secure the prize for a consecutive season after getting the better of Deekay.
The year before, Title Fighter had recorded a sixth placing to Dashing in the Listed Wangoom (1200m) during the Warrnambool meeting, but this preparation he managed fourth behind Oliveanotherday in the Warrnambool race.
On this occasion though, Title Fighter shoulders increased impost, up from 54kg last time to 60kg for Flemington, yet he’ll enjoy the ride from Jamie Mott, the Victorian jockeys’ leader this term boasting 102 triumphs and sitting two victories astern of Craig Williams on the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership.
Douglas noted the strategy involved taking Title Fighter into the Saturday contest third-up, and importantly the gelding has notched two outings at 1200m to prime him.
At his seasonal reappearance, Title Fighter closed strongly for fifth position against Recon in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) on Mornington Cup Day.
“He obviously won the race last year and it’s been a bit of a plan to keep him on a similar program this time,” Douglas said.
“These three runs have all be planned since the start of his campaign.
“He was good first-up, was good again last week behind a nice horse and hopefully he can get the job done third-up.
“We won’t have to do much with him this week after his run on that heavy track last time.
“He had a nice enough blow after the race on that heavy ground, so he should take plenty of improvement from it.”
Title Fighter is alongside topweighted with the Shawn Mathrick-prepared Corniche carrying 60kg in Saturday’s event amid 21 entries that feature Pop Award, De Bergerac, Losesomewinmore, Wangoom placegetter Immortal Star and Stoli Bolli.
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