By Glenn Davis
Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea hasn’t ruled out a trip to Sydney with Prioritise for the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at Randwick next week if the gelding claims the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Prioritise won four successive races before returning from a short break to finish fourth to stablemate Niccanova in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1350m) at Doomben last month.
“If you swapped their runs, Prioritise would have nearly won the Recognition Stakes,” Tregea said.
Tregea hasn’t put much thought into a possible trip away and will delay any decision until after the Brisbane Handicap (1600m).
The five-year-old showed he could be competitive when sent to Sydney for two runs in August.
“He might go away but it depends how well he goes on Saturday,” Tregea said.
“But he’s the type of horse who can back-up as the Villiers is next week.
“Our first plan with him is to get Black-Type for his family.
“Conquering Lass’s grand dam is Kimash and she got Black-Type by running third in the Legacy Classic recently.
“Kimash is also the mother of Prioritise so it would be nice for the family to get a Black-Type winner.”
Prioritise and Niccanova are both being aimed for the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on December 29.
A bonus of $100,000 is on offer from Racing Queensland if the Bernborough winner claims the Villiers Stakes while a $50,000 bonus is also available if the Bernborough winner places or finishes fourth in the Villiers.
Meanwhile trainer Toby Edmonds will continue down the road to the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast next month with Champagne Jet in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m).
Champagne Jet caused an upset over stablemate Betaima at Caloundra last month before Betaima franked the form by winning the Sizzling Plate (1050m) at Doomben on December 10.
“Champagne Jet has a lot of upside to her and it’s unusual for a Jet Spur to run so early as a two-year-old,” Edmonds said.
“It didn’t surprise me to see her beat Betaima as they are both very good fillies.
“Betaima is qualified for the Magic Millions (Classic) now and hopefully Champagne Jet can get some prizemoney to qualify as well.”
Racing Queensland webnews December 7