Spirit Ridge will chase a Brisbane winter carnival win before he heads for a well-earned spell.
Mark Newnham has identified one final target for promising stayer Spirit Ridge and he is hoping the horse can round out his campaign with a victory.
The imported galloper will have one more run in Saturday’s Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm before he is spelled.
Since arriving in Australia a year ago, Spirit Ridge has quickly adapted to the local racing scene, capturing back-to-back wins in the Summer and January Cups before he was freshened for a carnival campaign in Sydney.
His autumn efforts included a Group 3 placing and a fine fifth to Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes.
He hit the line strongly when dead-heating for second in the Wagga Cup last start when Newnham said he got shuffled back and had too much to do under his 60kg impost.
“He got too far back at Wagga but he’s come through it well and Josh Parr will ride,” Newnham said.
“He’s done well in between and held his condition really well so I’m pretty happy with him.
“This will be it for him (this campaign).”
Newnham will also be represented at the Queensland Derby meeting by speedy mare Blazing Miss in the Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m).
He believes the fillies and mares’ feature represents a nice target for the four-year-old, who is chasing her first black-type win after finishing a fighting third behind Outback Barbie and Intrepidacious in the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben last start.
“She ran well the other day against Outback Barbie and Intrepidacious, so I don’t think a Listed race is far off for her,” he said.
Newnham also confirmed he would push on with the winter campaign of Splintex following his sixth to Eduardo in the Doomben 10,000 when he trailed the speed and held on for sixth, finishing 1-1/2 lengths from the winner.
He has returned to Sydney between runs and will head back to Brisbane for the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 5.
“I don’t think the 1350 metres of the Kingsford-Smith or the 1400 of the Stradbroke are achievable for him. They’re probably just outside his distance range,” Newnham said.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
