Clayton Douglas could have his first starter in a Group One race later this week with OTI Racing considering running Inverell (NZ) (Shocking) in Saturday’s A$1m Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Connections will decide whether Inverell heads to Sydney this weekend or returns to Sale in search of his second victory when meeting older horses for the first time in the A$35,000 Carlton Draught BM64 Handicap (2226m) on Wednesday.
“We nominated him for the Spring Champion on Monday morning. That Spring Champion Stakes may come up a little weak so will assess the entries before making any decision,” OTI Racing’s managing director Terry Henderson said.
Inverell was acquired by OTI Racing from New Zealand after contesting two trials, runner-up in his final New Zealand trial over 1050 metres at Avondale on a heavy (10) surface on June 15.
The three-year-old Shocking gelding won his Sale maiden on debut over 1429 metres by 1.8 lengths on August 22 before advancing to the Penfolds Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington a month later.
Inverell settled behind the leader when rounding the home turn near the 500-metre mark became unbalanced when bumped towards the running rail. Luke Currie was forced to restrain Inverell, losing ground and momentum in the incident before placing ninth, 6.4 lengths behind the winner Gundec.
“He came through his last run at Flemington okay, obviously it gave us little idea what he would have done in the race,” Henderson said.
Currie has been booked to ride Inverell at Sale on Wednesday where he is the only three-year-old in the field of 12 plus one emergency which includes last start metropolitan winner Jungle Jane.
