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Kendrick to decide late on Foreign Territory start

2 February 2021

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By Glenn Davis

Stu Kendrick believes Sydney cast-off Foreign Territory can complete a hat-trick of wins if the gelding runs at Doomben on Thursday.

However, the trainer has warned punters Foreign Territory could be reserved for a Benchmark 78 race over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday if he decides against a Doomben start.

“I’ll wait and see and have a good look at the fields for Saturday first before deciding where he goes but if he runs at Doomben he’ll be very competitive,” Kendrick said.

Foreign Territory has started only three times for Kendrick for two wins and a third after departing the Bjorn Baker stables at Warwick Farm in Sydney.

The four-year-old was originally trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Randwick, winning two races in 11 starts before joining Baker’s stable where he failed to win in seven starts.

Kendrick is reluctant to take any credit for turning around Foreign Territory’s form since he joined the stable after finishing last over 1400 metres on the Kensington track last September.

“I used to train for a couple of his owners who asked me if I would take him on,” Kendrick said.

“He’s managed by Darby Racing and I’ve trained for them for more than 15 years when I was training in Mackay.

“He’s going good but I haven’t done much differently with him.

“I just think he’s enjoying the country environment more than being in Sydney.

“As soon as I got him, I gave him a few weeks in the paddock to freshen him up and he’s thrived by doing a lot of work on the treadmill then going out to the paddock to pick grass.”

Kendrick has no major plans in mind with Foreign Territory who is coming off a last start Class 4 win over 1600 metres at the Sunshine Coast on January 24.

“If he runs, I expect he’ll be hard to beat but he is stepping up to city grade,” Kendrick said.

“His last win was very good and hopefully he can go through his classes.”

Meanwhile Kendrick also is hopeful of a breakthrough win from stablemate Right Reason in the Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Right Reason - a son of Choisir - made it two placings from three starts when a fast finishing second to the Natalie McCall-trained Lucifer’s Loot in a 1000-metre maiden at the Sunshine Coast on January 22.

“He’s a nice horse but he found the 1000 metres too short last start,” Kendrick said.

“Going to 1200 metres will suit him a lot better and hopefully he too can progress through the classes.”