Presidentialsecret is hoping to get the key to the city when Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s five-year-old gelding makes its 21st attempt at winning at the track.
With 12 wins across its 44 starts, the stable approaches Friday night’s Group 3 Empire Stallions VicBred Platinum Pace with some confidence that Presidentialsecret can enjoy its first win at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
“It’s racing well and has a lot of class,” Tonkin said.
“The horse probably wasn’t racing at true form last time, but is back from a spell and his form has been really good.”
Among five runs since that winter spell Presidentialsecret has been beaten a half-head into second at Melton on September 5, saluted at Geelong on October 1 and placed third at Ballarat eight days later, when a photo-finish separated three who came home in a 1:54.7 mile rate.
On Friday he returns to Melton for the 21st time, a win drought that Tonkin attributes to opportunity more than ability.
“A fair few trips to Melton were young sires; he’s been racing in good company as a two, three and four-year-old,” Tonkin said.
“He has probably had half-a-dozen goes at M0s, but the last time he had ulcers and we’ve treated him and he has come back a different horse.”
Tonkin said the Platinum Pace appeared “an open race”, with threats including Paul Rowse’s filly Desiring Kate, who is among those sharing the second row with Presidentialsecret.
The Smythes Creek team will also make an assault on Friday’s Group 3 Harness Breeders Victoria Cinderella Stakes, in which its Group 1 winning mare Whereibylong will endeavour to overcome a tough draw to take the main cut of the $30,350 stake.
“She never runs a bad race,” Tonkin said. “She definitely has the class in the race.
“Drawn inside on the second row over the short distance could be tough, but she is a class mare and she’ll run a really big race.”
Whereibylong’s last 11 starts have yielded eights win and three seconds, including the Group 2 Breeders Crown Championship at Melton on August 30.
To return to the winners circle she’ll have to mow down another in-form fancy in Amanda Turnbull-trained Betabcool, a Kiwi export which is up in class but has been stellar since jumping the ditch.
“I think Betabcool is a horse in form and probably has the right draw for a short trip, but I wouldn’t be giving my mare over for any other,” Tonkin said. “I am very confident in her ability.”
The stable also has Jadahson returning in the Alan Mance Holden Pace, its first race since January 18, having recovered from a broken pastern.
Though back from a long spell and “drawn a bit awkwardly”, Tonkin said Jadahson “has never run a bad race”.
And it has Another Safari – “a pretty classy horse, but has drawn badly” – in race five, the Soho Standardbreds Pace.
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