While most trainers would be pleased with a Good 3 track rating, Joe Pride has scratched his smart sprinter Tiger Tees from the Group 3 $150,000 DX Solutions Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, fearing the surface would be too hard for the noted wet tracker.
Tiger Tees has been scratched from the Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Eight year old Tiger Tees is on the verge of retirement and Pride wanted to give him every chance to perform at his best in suitable conditions before making a final decision on his furture.
“I don’t want to run him on a rock-hard track and assess him on that,” Pride told AAP.
“It is getting to the pointy end of a decision so we’ll wait another week.
“If he shows he doesn’t have it in him anymore then he will be going to a good home at the farm of one of his owners, Anthony Rix.”
The veteran sprinter has had one run back form a spell for a fourth to Our Boy Malachi in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on January 30.
Tiger Tees is the winner of thirteen of his thirty-six race starts, which includes a victory in the 2014 Group 1 $400,000 Bloodstock.com.au Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on a rain affected track.
The Dubawi gelding was also placed third two starts later behind Hana’s Goal and Weary in the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick,
but hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since taking out the 2014 Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Trainer John O’Shea has also scratched Vashka from the Southern Cross Stakes, leaving a field of seven to go around.
Peter and Paul Snowden’s new stable acquisition Rich Enuff heads the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3, just ahead of John O’Shea’s Generalife at $3.10.
Boss Lane from the Ron Quinton stable is next in the betting at $4.80 just ahead of the consistent Big Money at $6.50.
Southern Cross Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Rich Enuff, $3.10 Generalife, $4.80 Boss Lane, $6.50 Big Money, $10 Aussies Love Sport, $17 Decision Time, $51 Forget.
