Stitch Me Up On Trial For Spring Missions
- Tuesday, 19 August 2014 07:50
The untapped potential of lightly raced Stitch Me Up is what trainer Shane Nichols is excited about heading into Wednesday's Sandown meeting.
Stitch Me Up will chase back-to-back midweek city wins in The Cove Hotel Handicap (1400m) and Nichols hopes it can be a stepping stone to bigger targets later in the year.
"He's a really promising horse," Nichols said.
"We don't know where the ceiling is for him and that's the thrilling part from our point of view."
Wednesday's race provides a chance for Stitch Me Up to try to boost his prize money and rating and Nichols believes the gelding is well placed.
Stitch Me Up has a nomination for the Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Classic, but races such as the Carbine Club Stakes and Sandown Guineas later in the campaign might be more suitable options.
"A couple of the owners had a bet at 200/1 in the Caulfield Guineas so I think they've declared their hand on where they'd like to go," Nichols said.
The Mornington trainer said he would like to give Stitch Me Up a little break at some stage and said if he was to look at the Carbine Club Stakes and Sandown Guineas then that would allow the gelding to be freshen up.
"I'm going to wait until after Wednesday's race and see how he comes through it before making any decisions," Nichols said.
Stitch Me Up has been difficult to load at the barriers in both starts and was ordered to barrier trial but Nichols said he had worked on the problem.
The son of Choisir finished fourth in a Sale maiden on a heavy track on debut before venturing to Sandown on August 6, coming from last in a 1300-metre maiden to win after doing things wrong.
Mick Price has two runners entered in the benchmark race, last-start Geelong winner War Point and Samaready's half-sister Samartested who won a maiden at Geelong on the first day of the new racing season.
