Hinchinbrook Primed For Aussie Assault At Ascot

Hinchinbrook

Hinchinbrook (inside) is heading to Royal Ascot to seek international glory

Peter Moody has assured fans that everything is in order with Hinchinbrook ahead of his trip overseas to seek international glory.

Moody is planning to hit the ground running in the UK with all the hard work being taken care of at home before they leave.

“We had the trial at Cranbourne last Monday which pleased us no end,” he said.

“He’s going over ready to race, he’ll be racing this weekend.”

The overall target for Hinchinbrook is the Golden Jubilee and depending on his performance potentially the July Cup.

“It gives him 18 days to prepare him for the assignment at Ascot (Golden Jubilee, June 18th),” Moody said.

It’s a trip he’s done before and while there’s never been any major drama’s, the experience has taught him to do things a little bit differently.

“I don’t think we made too many mistakes but I’ve certainly learnt off the trips, i’ve been there twice,” he said.

“We’ve made sure the horse is ready before we leave home and we just need to keep the horse happy.”

Hinchinbrook was nominated for the races months ago but the decision to travel still caught many people by surprise.

For Moody though it was always going to be a real possibility.

“I always had it in mind, I thought he was the ideal sort of horse looking for the 1300m, 1400m trips,” he said.

Hinchinbrook didn’t have the most successful of Autumns in Australia but he did show a bit of promise towards the end, especially with a Group 1 second to Hay List in the All Aged Stakes.

“I believe it’s taken me four of five runs to get him right,” Moody said.

“He ran well fresh then needed a few to burn the fat out of him.

“It was the best he’s gone since he’s been in our care.”

Joining him on the flight across will be fellow Australian Star Witness.

He had a similar Autumn run, constantly plagued by Black Caviar and Hay List but was one of the best of the rest.

He’ll contest the Kings Stand Stakes and if he runs well there he could continue on to the Golden Jubilee and give Australia two real winning hopes.

Luke Nolen will travel to England to ride Hinchinbrook for the first time in a race and Steven Arnold will be there for the mount of Star Witness.

Back at home Moody still has one big threat running in the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Curtana wasn’t accepted for the Doomben 10,000 last week and instead will have her first Queensland run in this weekend’s QTC Cup before moving up to Group 1 level the following week.

“She’ll run in the QTC Cup over the 1300m and all being well she’ll back up seven days later for the Stradbroke,” Moody said.

“She’s been three weeks between run and it’s always been my intention to run her this Saturday.

“The backups not going to be a worry and she’s really thrived up there in Queensland.”

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