By Neil Evans
Ice In Vancouver, the popular five-year-old powerhouse from Tamworth, resumes for another much-anticipated prep at Tuesday’s feature Scone meeting.
Having not raced since a brilliant win in the feature Skellatar sprint at Muswellbrook in late March, Ice In Vancouver tackles a competitive Open Hcp over 1000m.
Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan.Credit: Peter Hardin
Always sparingly raced in a high-return career that has seen him win seven times in only 15 starts, the gelding can springboard straight into either Highway company or higher benchmark-rated metropolitan races.
He may even head north for the tail end of the Queensland carnival if things go to plan at Scone.
Trainer Cody Morgan immediately booked 3kg-claiming apprentice Stephen Mooney to offset the allotted 65kg for the Scone sprint, a sure sign the stable means business.
With an ultra-impressive four wins from five fresh runs, Ice In Vancouver tuned up for his return with a dominant trial win at home two weeks ago, clocking 58 secs flat for the 1000m.
But there’ll be little or no room for error in this first-up task which could prove a strong form reference.
Classy and hard-fit local five-year-old Comonic is also well in the market, backing up in 10 days from a gallant Class 3 Highway run at Rosehill, missing by a head under 63kg.
Another tough Scone-based sprinter, four-year-old Rising reloads only nine days after a narrow and fighting win in the BM 85 Aberdeen Cup over 1280m.
Naturally, by 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, Ice In Vancouver will become one of the few country-based horses in NSW, who have started more than 10 times, to hold a 50 per cent winning strike rate if he salutes fresh.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
