Royal appointment on Spieth’s horizon
LINDSAY Park’s hopes of launching a double- pronged attack on Royal Ascot rests in the hands of Spieth’s owners.
Almost certain to tackle the feature June meeting with dual Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior, Lindsay Park might also unleash enigmatic Spieth at the famous carnival.
A newcomer to the HayesDabernig yard, Spieth won a trial at Flemington last week and is being considered for several different races.
The King’s Stand Stakes ( 1000m) and Diamond Jubilee ( 1200m) are among options.
Tom Dabernig said the final decision would be left to Aquis Farm, which now owns the luckless speedster.
“We’ll leave it up to the ownership group,” Dabernig said.
“Ollie’ ( Damien Oliver) rode him in the ( 800m) trial and he we was happy with the trial.
“Royal Ascot has been spoken about but at this stage that will be a decision made more by the ownership group.
“At the moment, he’s doing everything we need to see.”
Twice narrowly beaten at Group 1 level at Flemington by Terravista and Malaguerra, Spieth could resume at Caulfield over 1100m on April 21 or head straight to the Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville next month.
Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Merchant Navy has been transferred to Aidan O’Brien’s stable for new owner Coolmore.
O’Brien is likely to target the Diamond Jubilee with Ciaron Maher and Aaron Purcell’s former star.
Shoals, Global Glamour and Supido are under consideration for Ascot starts.
Lindsay Park’s Vega Magic will trial at Tatura next week in preparation for an ambitious program which includes defences of the Goodwood and Memsie Stakes ahead of an Everest assault.
“He’s all set to go to the Goodwood again. He’ll trial publicly at Tatura on April 17,” Dabernig said.
“We sort of half toyed with running him in the TJ ( Smith Stakes).
“Last year, the Goodwood was sort of a formula that worked and the main goal is the Everest again.”
At Scone today three- time Group 1 winner Le Romain’s little sister Isabeau will make her debut, but Kris Lees concedes she is a slow maturing filly that “probably can’t win from the gate”.
Newcastle trainer Lees will take up to eight runners to Scone but he is reserved about the chances of Isabeau.
Lees rated Deceptacon the pick of his runners at Scone and feels the talented mare can overcome a big weight and wide gate to score first- up in the Class 2 Handicap ( 900m).
Lees also gave a solid push for stable acquisition Ten Carat in Race 2 after the former Anthony and Edward Cummings- trained threeyear- old won a recent 800m Beaumont trial in effortless fashion.