Pentacolo On Track For Oakbank
- Monday, 29 March 2010 08:15
Trainer Ciaron Maher hasn't ruled out trying for back-to-back Great Eastern Steeplechase wins with Pentacolo but a decision won't be made until he runs in Saturday's Von Doussa Steeple at Oakbank.
Pentacolo pleased the Warrnambool-based Maher with his length win over stablemate Al Garhood in a 3200m steeple trial at Oakbank on Monday.
"I want him to peak for Warrnambool so I'll just see. He's going to have to carry topweight (68kg) this year so we'll just have to work it out," Maher said.
"If it's an ordinary field we might be swayed. We'll wait and see."
Maher's main goal for Pentacolo is the $145,000 Grand Annual Steeple (5500m) at Warrnambool on May 6.
The seven-year-old was fourth to Sir Pentire in last year's Grand Annual.
Pentacolo showed he was going well with a five-length win over stablemate Art Success in a Hamilton 2800m jumps trial last Wednesday.
Al Garhood, a dual Brierly Steeple winner at Warrnambool, will have just the one run at Oakbank, in the Von Doussa.
Stable newcomer Art Success, the 2006 Group One Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner, impressed winning a hurdle trial (2200m) by six lengths from Satu San.
"He jumps really cleanly and seemed to handle the track okay. The Restricted Hurdle on Saturday looks a nice race for him," Maher said.
Satu San will run on the flat in the Yalumba Hcp (3600m) on Saturday and back up in Monday's Yalumba Classic Hurdle (3600m).
Another stablemate Marc Of Thunder, who won a Mt Gambier Hurdle (3050m) by 5-1/4 lengths last Friday, ran a soft fifth to the Barry Brook-trained Yesquire in a 2200m hurdle trial.
Maher said the grey would clash with Art Success in Saturday's Restricted Hurdle (2900m) and would probably back up in the Classic Hurdle.
"He won very easily at Mt Gambier in a very weak field," Maher said.
"I hadn't trialled him yet this preparation and I just treated it as a trial.
"He lost his confidence against some pretty strong fields last winter. He was running against the cream and I wanted to give him a confidence booster which it did.
"He raced and won on the bridle and he trialled very well today under a good hold. His jumping was spot-on."
