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Amanaat on trial for Winterbottom Stakes

31 October 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Ben Currie hasn’t ruled out a stopover in Melbourne for Weetwood Handicap winner Amanaat ahead of his Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes mission in Perth on December 1.

Amanaat will be on trial for his Perth trip when he makes his comeback in the Open Handicap (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Trainer Ben Currie has chosen to claim with apprentice Michael Murphy renewing his association on the five-year-old.

Murphy has ridden the former Victorian five times for four wins and a fourth.

After claiming the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba in April, Amanaat was being aimed at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben in June.

However, he missed the race after smashing his head and fracturing his jaw in the barriers for the Listed Ascot Handicap at Doomben in April.

Amanaat returned to the racetrack following the incident and downed the well performed Tumbler at Doomben on July 21.

It was his ninth win from only 13 starts and earned Amanaat a shot a Group racing in either Melbourne or Perth.

“I wanted to get him ready for Melbourne a bit earlier but we’re still looking at possibly going there before he heads to Perth,” Currie said.

“He was due to race last week at Doomben when the races were called off because of the strike.

“There’s still plenty of races still available for him in Melbourne if he goes there but I’ll see how he comes through Saturday’s race first before making a definite decision.

“He could well just go straight to Perth.”

Currie has also nominated Amanaat for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 24 and has given him a solid grounding for his return with three jump outs at Toowoomba.

“He’s been in work for a while and has had three jump outs and is ready to go,” Currie said.

“I’m keeping all options open but it might be bit of an ask to go to 1600 metres so soon into the Railway Stakes so the Winterbottom is more likely.”

Racing Queensland webnews   October 31