Talented galloper Whitefriars will have a low-key start to
his autumn preparation at Warwick Farm on Wednesday but
trainer Rick Worthington is expecting a strong performance
from the dual stakes placegetter.
Whitefriars has not raced since the eventful Listed Festival
Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on December 5 when he was involved
in interference early in the race.
Worthington was forced to spell the four-year-old when he
pulled up lame after that race.
He is now hoping for a trouble-free preparation for the son
of Arena beginning with Wednesday's Ray Burke Sprint (1000m)
on his home track with apprentice Kody Nestor aboard.
The trainer said he was happy with the entire heading into
his first-up assignment except for the fact he missed a
scheduled barrier trial due to wet weather early last week.
"He's in the 1000-metre race because he didn't trial however,
without getting carried away, I'll still be disappointed if
he doesn't run well tomorrow," Worthington said.
"I'm happy with the horse and expect him to run very well
provided he handles the track."
Whitefriars has always shown ability right from his very
first race start when he won by almost seven lengths in a
1000m 2YO Handicap at Canberra in January 2008.
At his second start in August 2008 he finished second to
Duporth in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at
Rosehill.
He also finished runner-up to Dreamscape three starts later
in the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
"I think he's always been an immature horse, although he's a
big horse, but he's always shown promise," Worthington said,
adding that his task was made difficult in those early
preparations because of wide barrier draws in good races.
"Last preparation when he won first-up on Melbourne Cup day
(at Randwick) I thought it was a good step in the right
direction but then, of course, another incident happened and
we've had to start again.
"I just would like to see him be able to get some momentum
up."
Whitefriars has won two from four when first-up from a break
including his 2-1/4 length win over 1100m at Randwick on
November 3 last preparation carrying 59kg.
Meanwhile, Worthington said Saturday's Canonbury Stakes
runner-up Corvidae had pulled up well from his first run for
the stable and was likely to be given three weeks before his
next start in the Kindergarten Stakes at Warwick Farm.
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