By Glenn Davis
Caloundra sprinter Tversky will be given his chance in Melbourne after stretching his winning sequence to four at Doomben on Saturday.
Ridden by Dale Smith, Tversky proved too strong for his opposition by downing the fast finishing Niccanova by 1-1/4 lengths in the Rostron Carlyle Rojas Open Handicap (1200m).
Cannyescent was third, a further half length away.
Trainer Gary Duncan, who has been based at Caloundra for six years, has earmarked the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day for Tversky.
“He won with a leg in the air so he’ll go to Melbourne now for the 1200-metre race on Cup day,” Duncan said.
“He’s a pretty smart horse and he’s only going to get better.
“But I think he’s done enough for now so I’ll give him a freshen up before he runs in Melbourne.
“He’ll probably have a jump out or a barrier trial in Melbourne before his next run.”
Duncan also has long range plans to target the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January with the five-year-old.
“He’ll probably only have one race in Melbourne and come home to freshen up for the Magic Millions carnival,” he said.
Duncan trained for more than 30 years around the Atherton region in north Queensland before moving to train at Caloundra on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
He was a successful hobby trainer and carpenter in the north when he arrived at Caloundra with a handful of horses including the well performed Mukaddamah Son.
Duncan rates Tversky as good as any horse he has trained in his long career.
Duncan will offer the ride Tversky to Smith who has ridden the gelding in all four wins this campaign.
Meanwhile a daring front running ride from apprentice Michael Murphy paved the way for Prioritise’s win in the Kestrel Solutions Handicap (1600m).
Prioritise notched up win number eight with a decisive 1-3/4 lengths win over Jaminza with a further one length to third placegetter, Glendara.
The disappointment came from Order Again who could manage only fourth, just under three lengths away.
Priortise’s win was his third in succession and took his record to eight wins from 22 starts.
Trainer Steve Tregea sent the five-year-old to Sydney for two starts in August but after failing at Randwick and Rosehill the gelding returned to win at the Sunshine Coast at his next two starts.
Tregea has no major plans in the short term before freshening him up for the summer carnival.
“It was a good win and I told Michael not to be afraid to lead,” Tregea said.
“He can be a funny horse to ride in shorter races but in longer races like this he can lead so long as he’s got a horse inside him or the rails.”
Racing Queensland webnews September 15