Trainer Joe Pride has revealed that Target In Sight could join his growing list of sprinters in Brisbane if he performs well in the 2015 Ortensia Stakes at Scone this Saturday.
Target In Sight will have the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Ortensia Stakes at Scone this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Target In Sight started his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with an upset win over Deep Field in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and he finished a very close second in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on March 28 before he hit the line strongly to finish sixth in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.
Pride said that he has been very happy with the form of Target In Sight this preparation and he told Racing Ahead that Target In Sight could join stablemates like Kuro, Rock Sturdy and Craftiness in Brisbane if he is able to return to winning form in the Ortensia Stakes.
“James McDonald will ride there and he has been in terrific form,” Pride said.
“He has had a good preparation so far and you can forgive him for his run in the Hall Mark because he got way out of his ground there, but his closing sectionals were some of the best of the day.
“I haven’t ruled out taking him to Queensland.
“At this stage he will be running this week and I don’t know if I can fit him into that QTC Cup because there might not be room for another one, but I am sure that I can find a race for him somewhere.”
Pride has also included talented mare in the nominations for the Scone card this weekend and Pride confirmed that she could contest the Group 3 event this weekend.
Divertire started her preparation with a narrow victory in the Ranvet Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on February 25 before she produced slightly below par efforts at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and Warwick Farm on March 25, but Pride believes that she is ready to return to her best after she trialed well at Warwick Farm yesterday morning.
“There is a chance that she will run around,” Pride said.
“She trialed very well yesterday and I just need to monitor her to see how she is during the week.”
23 horses were included in the nominations for the Ortensia Stakes, while 26 fillies and mares remain a chance of contesting the Dark Jewel Classic this weekend.
