Like any trainer, Mick Trotter is a dreamer, but not even he dared imagine he would end up with the hand he has in Saturday’s The Showdown at Sandown.
Not because he doesn’t rate his two runners, Beaunified and Apache Song, rather because his Cranbourne stable only has 10 in work and they are his only two eligible for the $1 million event for two-year-olds.
“When you’ve only got two two-year-olds in the stable and they’re both lining up in a race like this, it’s pretty cool,” Trotter said.
“It’s always there in the back of your mind to try and get to a race like this, but it’s a matter of whether they’re going to be ready to be there at the time.
“But they’ve been going well and have been standing up beautifully.”
Trotter’s pair are both maidens, but each has done enough to warrant their spot in the race.
Sioux Nation filly Apache Song is backing up after her second placing in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m), which followed a narrow second placing to Miracle Garden on debut in a 1200m Pakenham maiden.
“She ate up that night, the next day she was absolutely bouncing and she’s improved every day,” Trotter said.
“She’s a funny horse, she’s so professional and with every jumpout and every race she just seems to be getting better and better, which is a good sign.”
Apache Song (barrier six) will be ridden by Carleen Hefel with Zac Spain to ride Beaunified (three), who was ridden by Hefel when third in the $280,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) on debut.
The son of Brazen Beau was beaten 6-1/4 lengths in that event, which was won by The Showdown favourite Shesallshenanigans, but Trotter said his horse did not appreciate racing in restricted room and did not deserve to be the outsider in Saturday’s field.
Trotter’s only query is whether The Showdown might be a fraction too long for Beaunified at just his second start.
“If I had any query, it’s just whether he’s ready for 1200,” he said.
“That’s my only concern, but the last couple of weeks he’s strengthened up unbelievably. Physically, he’s in fantastic order and if he runs the 1200 out he won’t be too far away.”