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Weighty problem for The Harrovian

28 October 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Cairns hobby trainer Steve Massingham fears for The Harrovian’s immediate future if the North Queensland cult figure continues his winning streak at Doomben on Saturday.

The Harrovian stretched his winning sequence to eight when successful in his Brisbane debut at Eagle Farm on October 3.

The seven-year-old will carry topweight of 59kgs in the 1640-metre Open Quality after being a 93-rater prior to his Eagle Farm success.

“If he wins again, he’ll be a 100-plus rater which will make it hard to place him,” Massingham said.

“He’s carried some big weights back home but when he came to Brisbane, he still had 58kg and he hadn’t won a metropolitan race.

“It is what it is but if he wins again, I’m not sure what to do with him."

The Harrovian is being prepared during his Brisbane stint by the Gold Coast training partnership of Toby and Trent Edmonds.

Massingham will confer with the Edmonds camp next week about the gelding’s future but expects senior part-owner Tom Hedley will transfer him to the Edmonds stable as he is weighted out of North Queensland racing.

“I’ve got eight horses in work in Cairns and haven’t the time to look after him in Brisbane,” Massingham said.

“If I had only two in work, I would probably take six months off and come down and train him myself.”

Massingham has received glowing reports from Team Edmonds since his brilliant Eagle Farm victory, with senior hoop Brad Stewart retaining the ride for this week's task.

“Toby was happy his work last Saturday but I haven’t spoken to him this week,” he said.

“Toby is really good to deal with and he said he’s improved out of sight since his win.”

Massingham believes The Harrovian will soon be looking for a longer trip and hasn’t ruled out chasing a wild card entry into the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January.

“He was slow out of the gates and had to go around a few tiring ones but he never panicked and got a great run when it came,” Massingham said.

“He’s not eligible for the Magic Millions but if he wins a wild card race, he could go that way.”