Teronado Ready To Take On Big Guns
- Monday, 15 September 2014 08:40
Teronado has done enough in two starts this season to convince Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill he can once again take on the best in Sydney and Melbourne this campaign.
Hill's opinion will be put to the test when Teronado lines up in Saturday's Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The four-year-old performed admirably when he travelled south last season, finishing worse than fifth only once in the Australian Derby on a heavy track.
At his previous start he grabbed his first Group One placing when third to Criterion in the Rosehill Guineas to fuel his trainer's Caulfield Cup hopes.
Teronado finished second over 1200m at Eagle Farm last month before winning over 1640 metres at Doomben.
Hill entered Teronado in both the George Main and the Hill Stakes (2000m) but said he would throw him in the deep end in the Group One with Chris Munce to ride.
"I tossed up taking him to Melbourne for the Underwood on Saturday but decided to stay at the mile," Hill said.
"This race will tell me how we are going. None of the races at this level are easy but he has come back very well.
"I just hope the rain doesn't come. He has run well in the wet but the Derby was inconclusive as far as running 2400 metres.
"The track was bottomless that day."
Teronado was one of 12 entries taken on Monday for the George Main with dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls heading the field.
Sacred Falls is also nominated for the Underwood (1800m) at Caulfield but Zac Purton has already been booked to fly from Hong Kong to ride him in Sydney.
His trainer Chris Waller has also entered Hawkspur, Moriarty and Royal Descent in both Group One races.
Three-year-old Panzer Division, trained by Paul Messara, is the only three-year-old in the George Main and will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla.
Panzer Division is aiming to become the first of his age group since Viscount in 2001 to win the George Main.
