Jason Coyle wants to reinvent the racing style of Scream Machine in time for a shot at the two richest sprints of the Brisbane winter carnival.
“We thought we would change tack this time and miss the autumn to concentrate on the winter,” Coyle said.
Scream Machine will resume at Rosehill on Saturday with Coyle making plans to run the accomplished middle-distance horse in the $650,000 Doomben 10,000 and the $1.36 million Stradbroke Handicap.
“He’s always been a really good fresh horse so I’m hoping to take advantage of that this time in,” Coyle said.
Scream Machine was placed behind Toydini at Group Three level in the early stages of his spring campaign and Coyle is using that result as enough reason for a dual Group One bid in Queensland.
“I think the form around a horse like Toydini is strong enough to warrant keeping him sharp for at least one of the Group One races up there,” Coyle said.
“But if he is ultra impressive in what he does on Saturday, I’d look at the Doomben 10,000 first.”
Four of Scream Machine’s five wins have been at a middle distance but Coyle says his days as a 2000-metre horse will be put on hold.
“When they run on in their races like he does it’s the obvious thing to do to keep stepping them up in distance,” Coyle said.
“But he over-races when the speed drops and as he has got older it seems he might be going the opposite to the way he has raced.”
A suspension has cost Tim Clark the mount in Saturday’s 1350-metre race with Christian Reith to be reunited with the five-year-old in a race for the first time since a city midweek placing in January, 2012.
Scream Machine has been given two barrier trials in preparation for his return as part of a team of three horses Coyle will take to Rosehill.
He will also start Queensland Derby aspirant Takewing as well as promising two-year-old Charming Lad.
“Not only for Saturday but beyond they all certainly appeal as horses to follow,” he said.