Alberton Park's Form To Decide Future
- Tuesday, 16 August 2011 02:59
Trainer Liam Birchley is hoping underrated mare Alberton Park's upcoming spring performances may delay a career in the breeding barn for another season.
The five-year-old mare has been nominated at both Doomben and Warwick Farm in Sydney on Saturday and Birchley favours sending her interstate for the Listed Toy Show Quality (1300m).
She is entered for a 1350-metre Class Six Plate at Doomben.
E-Thoroughbred's principal Tony Bott recently bought into the ownership of Alberton Park who had her first start for her new connections when runner-up at the Gold Coast on August 6.
It was her first start in almost two months since a mixed Brisbane winter carnival campaign.
During the winter Alberton Park competed in three successive Listed races with her best performance at black-type level when runner-up to Jasminka in the Listed Bright Shadow Quality (1200m) at Doomben in April.
The daughter of Thorn Park then missed a place in the Listed Juanmo Stakes at Eagle Farm and Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast at her next two starts before finishing ninth after being slowly away and blocked for a run in the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes won by Kanzan at Doomben in May.
Alberton Park lived up to her sound winter performances when winning in Class Six company at Doomben on May 28 but was hampered by a wide barrier when ninth in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich in mid-June.
Birchley has always believed Alberton Park was a developing type who would get better with age.
"She was a bit unlucky in a few of those winter races," Birchley said.
"She's got new owners now and if she can't compete at stakes level in Sydney then she'll go to stud immediately.
Birchley is confident Alberton Park can measure up to stakes races in Sydney during the spring but is unlikely to test her at a higher level.
"She's already stakes-placed and I think she's up to some of the stakes races in Sydney," he said.
The $100,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on September 2 and the $100,000 Group Three Patinack Farm Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle 13 days later are two races Birchley has pencilled in for Alberton Park.
Birchley will decide later in the week whether to send Alberton Park to Sydney.
"I want to wait as late as possible," he said.
"I would rather not work her out of her normal environment so it's best to go to Sydney after she works later in the week.
"She's always been above average but she's no superstar. If she can be competitive in Sydney she'll probably race on for another year but if she doesn't she'll go straight to stud this season."
