It has been 20 years since top Perth trainer Trevor Andrews travelled to Sydney to plunder autumn carnival riches with Heroicity.
Now he is back and hoping to do it all again with Saturday’s Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) runner King Saul.
Andrews won the 1992 Group One BMW with Heroicity, who was also third in that’s year’s Hobartville Stakes and fourth in the Canterbury Guineas.
“That was my last trip to Sydney so I’m hoping we can rekindle some of those times,” Andrews said.
King Saul has raced just five times for three wins and a third behind Playing God and Ranger in the Group One Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in December.
It was that run which convinced Andrews to make plans for an interstate trip.
King Saul arrived at Randwick last week following a 22-hour door-to-door journey which included a flight from Perth to Melbourne and subsequent float trip to Sydney.
“He dropped off probably 11 kilos in weight but he’s settled in really well and put that straight back on,” Andrews said.
“He’s done super. I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s travelled and settled in.”
King Saul will tackle a classy field at Warwick Farm headed by Group One winners Manawanui and Doctor Doom and boom Victorian Moment Of Change.
Heroicity raced against the likes of Veandercross and Naturalism during his three-year-old year so Andrews is under no illusions about his task.
“It’s a very tough ask this weekend. It’s a hot field,” Andrews said.
“He’s an off-the-pace, run-on horse and there’s quite a lot of speed in the race.
“As long as he can get balanced and find a bit of rhythm and hit the line, I think he will benefit from the run and it should suit him when he steps up over ground.”
Andrews has also done his research on the major contenders.
The Royal Sovereign is the traditional starting point for the Guineas and Derby horses and Andrews knows King Saul will be meeting many of them again throughout the autumn.
“Manawanui has been very impressive against the likes of Helmet,” he said.
“Peter Moody’s horse Moment Of Change, there’s a good wrap on it.
“They’re all heading down the same path towards the Randwick Guineas and some of those longer races.
“The opposition is really strong so hopefully we’re competitive and we’ll improve with the run.”