Tom Dabernig had one sprinter book their spot in a Group 1 race last Saturday and he is looking forward to seeing another put up their hand for a crack at the top level this weekend.
Untapped four-year-old Oliveanotherday will resume in Saturday’s $200,000 The Heath at Caulfield.
The 1100-metre Group 3 will be Oliveanotherday’s first start since completing an undefeated four-start campaign in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1100m) in early May, when the gelding announced himself one of the most exciting sprinters in the country.
Dabernig knows the son of Nicconi needs to step up, but he took heart from his Wangoom Handicap win over older horses and has been happy with what he has seen from him since.
“Three to four is always a funny transition, but as a three-year-old he was in races where he was beating older horses, so I think he’s a horse that can make that transition fine,” he said.
“He trialled at Caulfield last Wednesday and trialled really well and he pulled up well.
“He’s had a nice build-up, he’s had two trials and seems to be going well.”
Oliveanotherday is part of a handy sprinting team for the Warrnambool horseman, who last Saturday saw Cavalry Girl seal her place in Saturday week’s Group 1 Moir Stakes with victory in the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes at Sandown.
Oliveanotherday defeated Point Barrow in a 1000m jumpout on Caulfield’s Heath track on August 19, having earlier won an 880m hitout at Casterton.
Dabernig considered The Heath a good starting point for Oliveanotherday given he won at Caulfield the start before the Wangoom, which will help him formulate the campaign to come.
“He was good at Caulfield, so we thought that might be a nice, safe kick-off,” Dabernig said.
“He hasn’t been to Flemington yet, so what we’re considering is maybe the Bobbie Lewis (second-up) and trying it early, which might help map out what we do.
“The straight is an unknown and I didn’t want to go first-up down the straight, so I thought we can get that run into him and then make that call on what we do.”
Oliveanotherday is $2.50 favourite for The Heath, where Group 1 winner War Machine ($4), Bridal Waltz ($6) and Inkaruna ($8) are among the other his potential rivals.
