By Ray Hickson
Trainer James Ponsonby is considering bypassing Wednesday’s Rosehill meeting and giving in-form galloper Socrates his chance in Sunday’s $100,000 Taree Cup.
It’s going to require a race morning punt scratching the five-year-old from the New TAB App Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill where he’s drawn near the outside in the hope he draws favourably at Taree when fields are finalised tomorrow.
Socrates wins with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle on Spring Champion day at Randwick last month. Gibbons takes the ride again at Rosehill on Wednesday.Credit:Getty
As it stands Ponsonby said Socrates is rather well placed at Rosehill coming out of successive Highway wins but a run at Taree in open company could open up options for the next 12 months.
“We’ve nominated for the Taree Cup and we’ll have a brief look at the noms for that race to make sure what race is the better option,” he said.
“If he continues to improve with another preparation there are end-of-season group races in Brisbane that might suit him over a bit of ground.”
It’s just a few days shy of a year since Socrates’ debut for Ponsonby, who was formerly trained by John O’Shea, in a set-weights class 1 at Queanbeyan where he finished third as a $1.80 favourite.
He broke a two-year absence from the winner’s stall in early September this year, claiming a class 1 on a heavy track at Tuncurry, and since then the only way has been up.
“I just think the horse lacked maturity, he’s not a large horse but he’s a lot more robust now than he once was,” he said.
“The one thing that’s been different now is you can ride him on-pace and he’s relaxing.”
If Ponsonby rolls the dice at Rosehill, that will be the key as Socrates has put himself forward in each of his three recent wins and he’ll be left with no option from the tricky start point.
“Travelling Kate held the front last time at Hawkesbury and she’s drawn underneath us so it’ll be a little bit of how much work to do to get up handy,” he said.
“If it had been a straight line there’d be no worries but it’s a very short run from the 1800m to the bend.
“He’s got good tactical speed so with the 2kg off (for Dylan Gibbons) he should be able to put himself handy.”
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