Dubai The Next Target

The Age

Friday January 16, 2009

Andrew Garvey

A leading jockey and trainer assess their Flemington prospects for Andrew Garvey.

THE JOCKEY

CRAIG WILLIAMS

FLEMINGTON

ELZEEZA (Race 1, No. 4): She's unraced. and I don't know a lot about her. She's well bred and owned by Sheikh Hamdan so she'll be a nice type. They are all first starters bar the topweight so it's a bit unknown. I'm hoping she can run well.

SOOZE (Race 2, No. 5): She looks like she's starting to find form and is right up to this at her top. She will be fitter for the run over the trip at Caulfield last start and it looks a nice race for her.

CHASE THE SUN (Race 4, No. 4): He's a nice stayer. It wasn't a bad run at Moonee Valley last start and he probably wasn't suited by the way the track raced. Back to Flemington he should be in the mix.

PACKING SUCCESS (Race 5, No. 9): Very unlucky in Bairnsdale Cup last start where he finished fourth. The jockey won't make the same mistake twice, not when your mum owns it. He should be a good chance.

SILKY SMOOTH (Race 6, No. 12): A very exciting horse. He has really matured and this run will establish where he fits into the autumn. Drawn nicely and I'm really hoping he can step up to group company on Saturday.

COMMANDING HOPE (Race 7, No. 5): He's a really nice horse. At the end of last preparation he really stamped himself as a group sprinter and it looks a race where he should be capable of continuing on from his last time in work.

DEFINITIVE (Race 8, No. 10): He was an expensive horse who showed some promise last preparation. This won't be an easy race first-up but he will be improved by a spell and I believe he will be well suited by the long run in at Flemington.

THE TRAINER

DANNY O'BRIEN

STRATELLA (Race 2, No. 9): She is on the minimum but we've claimed on her to get her right down in the weights. She is a very honest mare but in Saturday class would need to do everything right to win.

VIGOR (Race 4, No. 1): He has been sensational this preparation and just keeps winning. I wanted to give him one more run at the trip to see what goals we can set for him later in his career. He's the one to beat.

HARGITAY (Race 4, No. 6): Disappointing at Caulfield last start but I'm stepping him up to this trip to see if he has any future as a stayer.

BARBARICUS (Race 5, No. 1): Has come through the Melbourne Cup well. Heading to Dubai on Tuesday. Have taken the blinkers off him and will claim given the 60 kilograms and his class should put him into the finish.

VALEDICTUM (Race 6, No, 3): Also going to Dubai. I'd like to see a solid effort so we're happy with his condition when we put him on the plane.

IMMORTALITY (Race 7, No. 3): It is a race that he can win. That level is about where he is at in his career. We tried him against the better horses in the spring and he was found wanting. His two runs back in have been good and he looks a real good chance.

VIALLICO (Race 8, No. 2): I'm looking forward to seeing him going around a bend at the 1400. I think that is where he will be suited going forward up to a mile. He weakened out of it last start but is a better horse than that and hopefully will show it on Saturday.

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