By Bren O'Brien
Having baulked twice before at sending his smart sprinter Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke [USA]) to stakes company, Mornington trainer Matt Laurie wants to give the 5-year-old one more chance to 'build the picket fence' before taking on the better sprinters.
Alfa Oro, a winner of five of his seven starts, including his past four, is an acceptor for both the Listed Testa Rossa S. at Caulfield (1200 metres) on Saturday and the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge BM84 over 955 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Laurie won’t make a final decision until the morning of the race but is leaning towards what looks an easier assignment for Alfa Oro, who has drawn barrier one on Friday night.
Trainer Matt Laurie (right)
"It's one of those ones, I might decide at 7:28 Friday morning," Laurie told TDN AusNZ.
"I'm leaning towards the Moonee Valley race because that's the one he has been aimed at all along. He’ll be cherry ripe for that, but I'm slightly concerned that while he's quick, he's not super quick out of the gates, and he might get hemmed away.
"The race on Saturday is a small field and they may not go that quick and that might negate some fitness queries. I think we’ll probably end up going with our original plan at The Valley and if it doesn't work out, we’ll use it to build him for the next race."
"I'm leaning towards the Moonee Valley race because that's the one he has been aimed at all along." - Matt Laurie
Taking the easier option is no reflection of Laurie's opinion of whether the horse is up to tackling stakes company. He has always held the New Zealand-bred sprinter in high esteem and he holds entries for both the G1 Manikato S. and G1 Darley Sprint Classic later in the spring.
He was set to start in the Listed Carlyon S. last month, but Laurie scratched him after all was not quite right with the gelding. Given his history of injuries, Laurie was happy to be cautious and freshen him up for the spring.
"He was prepared to go a while back, but I wasn't too happy with him. Since then, he's been really good. I've been really pleased with him. I think he's going particularly well and it would be nice to keep the picket fence going," he said.
"I'm hopeful that he can win the next one and then is going to reach stakes company from there on in, maybe something like the Caulfield Sprint or the Schillaci are good options for him. We’ve always managed to place the horse very well, knowing full well that he was a serious horse."
A $240,000 purchase from the Regal Farm draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs, Alfa Oro had two runs as a 2-year-old before suffering a serious leg injury which saw the promising galloper sidelined for 20 months.
With those issues in mind, and knowing he can step through his classes, Laurie has been happy to slowly build with Alfa Oro.
"By default, we missed all those two and 3-year-old races and are very grateful to have him back in the game. Because of it, we have been able to take our time and place him, but eventually, you get to a point where you can’t and you just need to take on the better horses. We are just about at that time."
Watch: Alfo Oro breeze as a 2-year-old, he was a $240,000 purchase from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale
Pretty in the deep end
Laurie is taking a different approach with smart 3-year-old filly Pretty Rossa (Testa Rossa), who takes on black-type company in the G3 Piper-Heidsieck Scarborough S. at The Valley at just her second start, having impressed with a recent maiden win on her home track.
"She is getting thrown in the deep end, no doubt about that. I think if she went to a BM64 grade in the bush, she'd be really hard to beat again," he said.
"She is getting thrown in the deep end, no doubt about that." - Matt Laurie
"I do like her. She's a nice filly and she's got a motor. It might be a bit early, but it’s a good chance to find out anyway.
"She should improve and maybe is more of an autumn horse given it's her first preparation. It's pretty hard to go through your first prep and get to stakes company. However she finishes out this prep, she will better for it and we will see how she can progress next time."
Miss back after a year
Laurie also has Algadon Miss (Equiano {Fr}), a winner of five of her 10 starts, resuming at Caulfield in a BM90 H., exactly 12 months after her last run.
"She broke down in the same race last year and she was going particularly well, having won her two previous starts. I thought she loomed up like she was going to win and she stopped in motion, and it turned out she hurt herself," he said.
"It's taken quite a while to get her back. But she has got a good record and she has had a nice building preparation and has trialled well. We are just looking for a good return, and if that was the case, we’d love to run her in something like the Black Pearl on Geelong Cup day."
Laurie said the 5-year-old, who was bred and is raced by long-time stable supporter Chris Jackson, and is a half-sister VOBIS Showdown winner Prince Of Sussex (Toronado [Ire}), is ready for Saturday, but that there was considerable improvement to come as yet.
"She is not a big horse. She shouldn't theoretically take too long to come to hand, but at the same time, she hasn’t raced for 12 months. We have given her plenty of trials but there is nothing like raceday. You've got to keep that in mind. She is as well-prepared as we can have her," he said.
