Revised Path For El Roca Yet To Be Decided
- Sunday, 17 August 2014 04:38
El Roca is over a minor setback that has delayed the start of his campaign but trainer Trent Busuttin is unsure when he will make his return.
The dual Group One placegetter was to resume in Saturday's Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield but a temperature spike on Tuesday forced a change of plans.
The 1100-metre sprint was to be a lead-in to the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 30.
"His temperature is fine and he's back on his feed. He'll have a couple of easy days because you've obviously got to be a bit cautious," Busuttin said.
"We'll be guided by him next week as to where exactly we go. The Memsie, 1400 metres first-up, is probably a touch hard on the horse.
"He's not the sort of horse that can probably go 1400 first-up. He wouldn't be 100 per cent for it anyway.
The Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington could be the first-up target on September 13 ahead of the Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28.
A Group Three support race on Memsie Stakes Day is another option.
Busuttin said El Roca may trial at Flemington next Friday.
The winner of his first two races at home in New Zealand, El Roca has had his other seven starts in Australia including a win over Dissident in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes in the autumn.
The Peter Moody-trained Dissident turned the tables with a short head win in the Group One Randwick Guineas.
El Roca then took on the older horses in the George Ryder Stakes, finishing third behind Irish visitor Gordon Lord Byron and Speediness.
Busuttin has also taken over the training of New Zealander Cauthen for his Australian campaign aimed at the Cox Plate.
