Gibbs goes solo with Guineas hopeful
Trainer hopes Damien Oliver can work his magic from wide barrier at Rosehill
Chris Gibbs will be flying solo in Australia this weekend when Endowment opens his Sydney campaign in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
The Ruakaka horseman has enjoyed a successful partnership with Donna Logan, who is now training in Singapore, and is officially operating in his own right.
“Donna relinquished her New Zealand licence and it’s just taken time to all go through,” Gibbs said.
Endowment has settled in well to his new surroundings and a bold run in the Guineas will confirm a tilt at the A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) in a fortnight’s time.
“I’m very happy with him. He’s been eating and drinking well so there’s no excuses on those scores,” Gibbs said.
“He’s very bright and we’ll see if he’s good enough. I’d rather have had a better draw than 19, but we have to cop that I guess.”
The lightly-raced son of Savabeel booked his trip across the Tasman with a solid run for fifth from another wide gate in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) off the back of an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
“It was an exceptionally good run in the Derby after he copped a sticky track in the Guineas,” Gibbs said.
“It looks like it will be slow at best at Rosehill so he would prefer a shower on the day and on a loose track I think he’ll be okay.”
Gibbs said they had no firm prerace plan for Endowment, who will be ridden by Damien Oliver.
“It depends how the horse jumps and then we’ll see if Damien can work his magic.”
● Vin De Dance can emulate Gingernuts a second time by proving New Zealand Derby form stands up to scrutiny among Australia’s leading three-year-olds.
The gelding has spent a fortnight in Sydney acclimatising and rain this week is no concern as he approaches the Rosehill Guineas today. “It’s ideal for us,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.
Rosehill was downgraded to heavy yesterday, conditions tailor made for Vin De Dance as he backs up from his New Zealand Derby (2400m) triumph at Ellerslie on March 3.
“You don’t know until you line up against the best of what’s around here, but if the Derby form does stack up he’s a good chance,” Forsman said
New Zealand-trained horses have won four of the past seven Rosehill Guineas.
Vin De Dance was a $6 chance with the TAB yesterday, while stablemate Mission Hill, who was sixth in the NZ Derby, was at $17 with another New Zealand visitor, Mongolianconqueror.
Forsman, who trains with Murray Baker, said their pair should also benefit from race fitness.
“A lot of the Australian horses are stepping up from the mile and we’ve been racing over a distance,” he said.
Cliff ’s Edge and Terwilliker are the only local hopes to have raced over 2000m this preparation although favourite Ace High won the Victoria Derby in the spring.
While Forsman embraced the weather, compatriots Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards said a wet track would count against Age Of Fire ($26) and Mongolianconqueror ($17).
Autridge and Richards launched a successful raid with Gingernuts 12 months ago after he won the NZ Derby.
“Unfortunately these two don’t seem to enjoy the wet as much as Gingernuts did,” Richards said.
Mongolianconqueror was seventh in his only run on soft ground in the Avondale Guineas last month and despite Age Of Fire recording his three wins on wet tracks, Richards said the colt was more suited to firm footing.
Age Of Fire opened his Australian campaign with a seventh in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) won by Kementari.