Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner will tackle Saturday’s Caulfield program with a stable veteran and a rising talent.
Former country racehorse of the year Hi Stranger will have his second race start back from 18 months of retirement in the 1200-metre benchmark 84 race.
After running around the hills of the NSW Riverina with a paddock of yearlings, the now eight-year-old gelding still appeared to have some freshness in his legs and was brought back into work.
His fitness gave out late first up at Swan Hill, where he finished ninth, and Saturday will be another fitness-building run with his aim this preparation being the Mildura Cup on July 18.
Promising three-year-old Shamateur, on the other hand, will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins after successes at Bendigo and Swan Hill.
The Shamus Award gelding will be testing himself in better company after wins in an open-age maiden and a benchmark 64 against his age group. He tackles a heat of the Silver Bowl series, stepping up from 1200 to 1400 metres.
Although he has just an outsider’s chance to win on Saturday, Fliedner is bullish about the horse’s future and what he could develop into in the next six-to-12 months.
Lake eyes listed options
Exciting filly Fieldelo did not disgrace herself stepping up to Saturday company with a runner up performance last weekend at headquarters.
The Toby Lake trained filly was well supported off the back of an impressive seven-length debut victory at Bendigo last month and punters sent her off a solid $2.25 favourite.
Fieldelo found one better on the day, with the baldy-faced She’s An Artist an impressive winner for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Lake will continue to aim high with the Deep Field filly, after she measured up to the big jump from 58 grade to a Saturday three-year-old handicap.
Options for her in coming weeks could include the Creswick Stakes back at Flemington or the Lightning Stakes in Adelaide. Both are at listed level, offering valuable black type for the future broodmare.
Jokic move a winner
Bendigo trainer Rod Symons had a day out at Echuca last Sunday, highlighted by the win of Makusha in the 2100-metre 0-58 contest.
The now Bendigo-based Chelsea Jokic was on board.
After settling last, Jokic made a bold mid-race move to circle the field and take up the running. That proved to be a masterstroke and after being headed in the home straight Makusha ($16) showed great tenacity to fight on and win.
That wasn’t the only positive result for Symons on the day either, with Prince Pinot (second at $19) and Kaniva (third at $20) outperforming their odds.