Trainer Clarry Conners has revealed veteran sprinter Decision Time is likely to be floated north for an appearance in the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton Racecourse on July 13th.
Decision Time has posted a number of standout results for the Conners stables through a long and busy racing career so far; resulting in an impressive record of ten wins and eight minors through a total of forty-five starts since his debut in early 2010.
Having returned to competitive form following a string of luckless performances when second in the Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick over the weekend, Conners told Racenet the horse is far more effective on top of the ground and believes the 2016 Ramornie Handicap will be ideal should the Grafton weather remain positive.
“I’m still waiting for a dry track for him. Providing the track is ok at Grafton we’ll go up for the Ramornie,” Conners said.
“He’s been a hard horse to train because he’s so big and does so well.
“He’s also had a bad run of injuries and so I’m always worried about if he’s going to break down again or if he goes into his races a touch underdone.
“But I worked him hard last Tuesday and he loved it. He also swims every day to keep the weight off him.”
A stable favourite since debuting, Conners confirmed the rising nine-year-old will retire from competition at the conclusion of his current preparation.
“This will be his last preparation, he’s been a great old horse,” Conners added.
Posting a number of typically handy results through the 2015 Spring Carnival, Decision Time ran on for fourth amongst classy company in the Fairfield RSL Club BM90 (1200m) before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) most notably.
Resuming on Boxing Day for fifth in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m), Decision Time continued to impress through the late stages of summer and early autumn; running second in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) and fifth in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) in February and March.
The 2016 Ramornie Handicap field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, July 12th.