TRAINING and driving combination Kerry Ann Turner and Robbie Morris admit it has been a different week with their talented three year old Charlaval leading into Saturday’s Alabar Breeders Challenge semi finals. With so much hype around Our Waikiki Beach and the expectation that he would win the Group 1 final on Sunday June 26, Charlaval was only expected to be a realistic place chance in the series.
However with drama surrounding Our Waikiki Beach and his late nomination leading to the Mark Purdon trained gelding being named second emergency in both of the semi finals, Morris believes there are now nine possible winning hopes including Charlaval.
Should Our Waikiki Beach squeeze into the series with two scratchings, the son of Somebeachsomewhere will regain his spot as the likely series winner and Morris is feeling for Purdon and the unbeaten gelding’s owners.
“Nominating late is something that happens to all stables and you never like seeing it,” Morris said.
“I feel for Mark and the team, Our Waikiki Beach is the best horse in the series, his record speaks for itself and there is still a chance he could get into the semi finals but we have to treat everything as we normally would, the show must go on.”
Charlaval won the Simpson Memorial in January when he ran 1:52.3 and since then has recorded four more victories including a heat of the Alabar Breeders Challenge at Newcastle.
“He qualified for the semi finals as a two year old and unfortunately finished seventh in his semi final, hopefully this year he will progress through to the final because I think if Our Waikiki Beach doesn’t get a start then the final will be wide open.
“He’s come on as a three year old and I think he really took the next step when he won the Simpson Memorial. His Breeders Challenge heat win at Newcastle was very good too because he has never been a genuine leader but still managed to get the job done.
“Charlaval ran second behind Arma The Gun in a heat at Menangle but he drew the inside of the second row and Brad Hewitt drove a perfect race to win. My bloke was only going three quarter pace for the majority of the race and it was the perfect lead up to Saturday night.”
The son of Four Starzzz Shark is raced by Daniel Cordina and the Turner and Morris combination have qualified a horse raced by Cordina for a Breeders Challenge final in the past.
“Blissfull Guy was a great horse for Daniel and Kerry Ann, I drove him in the two and three year old finals of the Breeders Challenge and he placed in both of them.
“Daniel is a great supporter of both of us and it would great to see him get another runner in a Group 1 event.”
Morris will drive the gelding aggressively on Saturday night from the good draw.
“With the emergencies out we will come out of gate four and he has got pretty good gate speed so I think I can get across at the start.
“In previous years the three year old series has been over the longer trip of 2400 metres but this year the race is back to the mile. I like the longer races because the mile racing tends to be less forgiving. Over the short trip, gate speed and barriers are vital.”
Charlaval will compete in the first of the Alabar Breeders Challenge Semi Finals for three year old colts and geldings at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night. The race is scheduled to begin at 8:20pm.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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