Acid test for Laird’s Palladium
SHOWING promise but racking up a string of near misses saw Charles Laird (pictured) finally lose patience with the Silvano colt Palladium who steps out as a gelding for the first time in the Procap Engineering Handicap at Greyville today.
As a colt Palladium showed that he was right up there with some of the best of his generation but when it came to the final push he was found wanting when it mattered.
Come the end of January and another lacklustre effort the decision was made and the vet called in.
Palladium
If the operation does have the desired effect, it will have come at an opportune time, giving Laird time to prepare his charge for Champions Season, so today’s race could be something of an acid test to see whether Palladium is a big race contender.
The break will be of concern to his supporters but his earlier form suggests that he has enough class to pull through even short of peak fitness and the Laird stable is starting to fire again.
Night Circus is another three-year-old that has benefited from gelding, having won three of his five starts since, including his last run over 1 900m on this course where he kept finding to hold off the attentions of First Apollo.
Dean Kannemeyer’s runner faces a field of tough handicappers in the Morris Vee Sports Betting Handicap where the Laird pairing of What A Poet and Thirty Two Squadron will provide some stiff opposition as both were winners of their last start.
What A Poet
What A Poet could prove the better of the two as his last win was his first run after gelding and the step up in trip should be to his liking.
First Apostle, beaten by Night Circus two outings back, lines up under top weight in the Lotus Rehabilitation Centre Handicap and Wendy Whitehead’s gelding should feature prominently again.
He goes very well on the poly, is distance suited and has some consistent recent form to recommend him.
Smart World and Principate look threats.