Trinder doubles his Newmarket chances
TRAINER Michael Trinder might be in the twilight of his career but the 71- year- old still rides all of his horses in trackwork at Spreyton and on Wednesday night in Launceston he will saddle up two runners in the $ 100,000 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m.
Trinder has his star stayer from last season, Toorak Affair, and talented sprinter Liffeybeau engaged in the state’s most prestigious sprint.
Toorak Affair is resuming
from a lengthy spell while Liffeybeau is fresh from an impressive first- up win in Launceston in a Benchmark 84 handicap over 1120m two weeks ago.
“Liffeybeau has had two goes at the Newmarket and been beaten less than four lengths on both occasions and this will be his last throw at the stumps of a race of this nature,” Trinder said.
“He is a little bit suspect over the last 50m in the higher- grade races, but I couldn’t be more pleased the way he has exercised and trained on.
“With a low gate he should but himself into the race for a long way.”
Toorak Affair has not raced since she missed a place in the Launceston Cup in late February and Trinder has opted not to trial her before going first- up into the Newmarket.
“I’m very pleased with Toorak Affair’s progress but this race is a starting point for her,” Trinder said. “I wouldn’t expect her to win but I am expecting her to be running on at the end of the race.”
Toorak Affair will contest
weight- for- age races leading up to the Ladbrokes Hobart and Launceston Cups.
Trinder also has his 11year- old veteran Spiro engaged in a 0- 60 handicap over 1400m and while in the twilight of his racing career the gelded son of Lonhro comes off a game second in a similar grade race two weeks ago and would only have to mirror that effort to be a winning chance.
Trinder’s son Adam has his star three- year- old filly from last season, Mystical Pursuit, engaged in the Newmarket.
Mystical Pursuit has not started since she ran last season’s three- year- old of the year, Still a Star, to a short half- head in the Strutt Stakes ( 2100m) at Elwick.
The now four- year- old mare developed a respiratory problem that required surgery but that appears to have been rectified with a brilliant trial win at Longford two weeks ago convincing the trainer to proceed with a firstup tilt at the Newmarket.
Mystical Pursuit has had only 10 starts for six wins and two minor placings.