After setting Nerodio for the Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m) at Belmont, trainer Stephanie Bakranich has designed an alternative program for the seven-year-old.
Bakranich is determined to test Nerodio in Ascot feature sprints at the Pinnacles carnival, despite his best results being on rain-affected ground at Belmont.
All of Nerodio’s 11 wins have come at Belmont, amongst them three Listed events: the Beaufine Stakes (1000m) twice and the Belmont Newmarket (1200m).
The Playing God gelding has yet to prove himself at Ascot, but he’s gone desperately close to breaking through with six placings from seven attempts.
Bakranich says with Nerodio fit and in peak condition, Ascot no longer holds any fears and he deserves to have a crack at Group 3 sprint events
She’s identified the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) in October and the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) three weeks later as Nerodio’s main targets.
Bakranich is confident Nerodio can measure up at Ascot.
“Because I want to have a go at those few races at Ascot, we really need to put him out for two weeks now and freshen him up so he can come back,” Bakranich told The Races WA.
“He’s done a lot more this year than I thought, and he is very sound this prep, probably as best as he’s ever been.
“The farrier believes his feet have never looked so good.
“He’ll go to those two races and if he gets through them okay then hopefully the Winterbottom.
“They’re the three that I’ve marked, but I only really pick one out at a time.
“I’d hate not to have a crack at them at all and he is not getting any younger.
“He’s raced so well this season and has been ticking over for most of the year.
“I’ve got my heart set on him winning one race at Ascot, he can’t keep running seconds.
“But it’s really the first race that I’m aiming for, anything else is just a bonus.
“And he’s so good at the 1000m and fresh; really that first race is where my focus is.
“Now that he’s so sound and well within himself, he deserves at crack at Ascot.
“I know he’s brilliant at Belmont, but I think he can still be good at Ascot.”
Nerodio has not finished outside the first three this preparation.
He ran second to Resortman last start in the Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m).
Six of his 11 career wins have been over 1000m and he’s two wins and a third from five first-up attempts.
The Prince Of Wales Stakes is run on October 29 and the Colonel Reeves Stakes on November 12.