Wood Aims For Summer Series With Belltone
- Thursday, 18 August 2011 02:59
Trainer Kelso Wood holds no fears about a seven-day back-up with emerging sprinter Belltone at Doomben on Saturday.
Belltone, a Chris Munce mount in the Padua College Class Six Plate (1350m) has suffered only one defeat in five starts since Wood took over training the six-year-old at the start of the year.
The only loss suffered by the son of Brahms, who was previously prepared by Paul Dawson, was when he went down in a photo-finish to in-form sprinter Solzhenitsyn in a 1400-metre Class Six Plate at Eagle Farm last month.
"Solzhenitsyn only just ran him down that day and he shouldn't have got beaten," Wood said.
"He jarred up and Chris (Munce) said he was changing strides from the 800 metres.
"He was fine again in a couple of days and he came out and won again last start after I gave him an easy time."
Wood, who also has three other fancies at Doomben, expects Belltone to either lead or sit just off the pace as he has done at his past two starts.
"It won't bother me if he doesn't lead. He can sit off the pace and still win," Wood said.
"I'm not worried about backing him up. He's a fit horse who is racing very well."
Wood plans to spell Belltone following this run and will bring him back for the summer series.
The summer series begins with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm followed by the Listed Doomben Stakes (1350m) and Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben.
The George Moore Stakes was moved for the first time to Eagle Farm last year but the meeting was abandoned after falling victim to the weather.
Wood also expects a strong showing from Elusive Port in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1615m).
Elusive Port was successful at Doomben and Eagle Farm last month before finishing fifth to Startsmeup over 1350 metres at Doomben on July 30.
Wood then tested Elusive Port for the first time over further ground when the seven-year-old was narrowly beaten by Lake George in a 1630-metre Open Handicap at Doomben on August 6.
"I've got four runners on Saturday and hopefully they'll all perform well," Wood said.
Wood's other runners are Seek And Find, who is dropping back in distance to 1110 metres in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap, and Ellie La Vie in the www.brc.com.au Handicap (1615m).
Seek And Find is resuming after winning three of his previous five starts prior to a break while Ellie La Vie has had only three starts in her career including a last-start fourth in a 1300-metre Maiden at the Gold Coast on August 6.
