Yesterday afternoon the team stood and watched as our two runners ASPECT RATIO and ENCOUNTABULL were loaded onto the float bound for Melbourne ahead of their races on Cox Plate day this coming Saturday.
Debutante Encountabull (Bullpoint x Countess Delago) (pictured left) will have his first start in Race 1- Inglis Banner for the 2 year olds, racing for $500,000 in prize money. The colt has impressed John from day 1 since he joined the stable and really shone in his first official barrier trial at Gosford earlier in the month. Jumping from Barrier 11 with James McDonald in the saddle, the youngster will get every possible chance to stamp himself as a horse to follow. Definitely an exciting time for some of his connections who are first time race horse owners.
Promising 3 year old filly Aspect Ratio (Declaration Of War x Poste Restante) (pictured right) also joined her stablemate headed South of the border in preparation for stepping out in Race 3- Antler Luggage Fillies Classic over the 1600m. A last start winner at Warwick Farm over the 1600m showed John that she to also wanted a piece of the Melbourne action and booked her spot on the truck.
Stable Foreman, Campbell Ashby, this morning reported that both horses travelled well over night and arrived in the early hours of the morning into the stables of Tony McEvoy at Flemington. Both were given a walk around to get them used to the new environment before being rugged and allowed to tuck into their morning feed.
As the excitement builds toward one of the biggest days on the Australian Racing Calendar we wish connections in both horses all the best for the weekend.
