By Jordan Gerrans
Co-trainer Maddysen Sears believes the best is yet to come for impressive youngster Red Top as the gelding shoots for his second straight metropolitan victory.
The son of Top Echelon overturned leader Heroic Son at the winning post earlier this month to nab his first victory in town after three encouraging efforts at provincial level, without breaking through.
The Darling Downs gelding is yet to finish out of the money in four trips to the races and heads towards the QTIS Two-Year-old Handicap over 1400 metres on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
Red Top hit the line strongly over 1350 metres last start – after coming from near last at the home turn – which Sears thinks will be an advantage on Saturday.
The field for the babies brings an array of different barns together.
Rockhampton’s Tom Smith makes the trip down with Better Rain, the powerful Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team present unbeaten Recommendation, while Rob Heathcote’s Billionair Baby was a stylish winner in a mid-week contest earlier this month.
“I think he will be a really good chance,” co-trainer Maddysen Sears said of Red Top.
“The one of Heathcote’s looks to be a pretty smart horse obviously but us being over the 1300 and 1400 metre trips already, we have that feather in our cap already.
“The long straight at Eagle Farm as well, I think that will really suit him and he will be hard to beat.”
Red Top is raced by Perth’s Suat Wee, who has turned down overseas interest for the promising gelding.
Maddysen, who co-trains with her father Tony, believes Red Top will grow into a 1600 metre and potentially beyond horse next campaign.