If winning form is good form then Mister Whiskers brings just that to Flemington on Tuesday and if his trainer’s inkling is right, bigger things may lay ahead.
Fresh from Concord Connie’s second placing in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Saturday – a big moment for Charlotte Littlefield’s small stable, her Melbourne Cup Carnival continues with Mister Whiskers taking on the One Pool Handicap (1800m).
The three-year-old was scratched from the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes over the same distance and instead steps up in trip after winning his maiden on debut over 1415m.
That was followed up with victory over the mile at Caulfield on October 17.
“He would have been a forgotten horse in that race,” Littlefield said of the race on Saturday won by The Roaring Sun.
“My gut feel was that this race is Tuesday is a better option at the longer distance and I want to teach him to be a horse that settles as I see Derby potential in him next preparation.’
The Derby in question is the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and it is with confidence that Littlefield is aiming high.
“He performed well at his second race start and goes up in grade. Everyone was noticing that he just hung on to win that race but it was a big effort and he wasn’t conditioned to have that sustained long sprint.
“He could have been judged harshly on that run but there is a lot more to come from him.
“If he can get some cover, we might see something different from him. I want him to be able to settle and not have to lead in a mad speed that Saturday’s race could have been.”
Similar to Littlefield’s feelings on the more suitable distance, Star Of Macedon’s co-trainer John Symons also preferred the 1800m for the colt by star sire Zoustar after scratching from the same event.
