Travis Doudle will keep exciting stayer Not Usual Glorious at home this weekend bypassing a trip to Melbourne.
The prospect of an improving racing surface at Flemington is the reason Doudle will wait before crossing the border with the former New Zealand galloper. Not Usual Glorious is unbeaten in three Australian starts and was marked a $3.90 second favourite for the $150,000 Banjo Patterson Series Final over 2600m
“I’m putting a line through him, we’re not really going to get that heavy track,’’ Doudle said.
“Worse case scenario it looks like it will be a Soft 5, the rail is back in the true conditions, so it’s going to be beautiful conditions there and that probably suits the others a bit more,’’ he said
The Rob Wilkinson-trained Master Chum will represent SA in the race, drawn perfect in barrier three with Damian Lane booked to ride.
Doudle will have a runner in Melbourne with Mr Pocket stepping out over 2500m in the $160,000 three-year-old feature.
“I’m giving him a test over 2500m," Doudle said.
"That should help work out what direction we take in the future with him."
Locally he has another strong hand at Murray Bridge led by the return of promising three-year-old Struck By who won the Listed Morphettville Guineas at Morphettville in March.
“He’s galloped up really well leading in,’’ Doudle said.
“Apart from the sticky barrier we’re pretty with him, Gatty (Paul Gatt) has been doing all the work with him and he’s very happy with where he’s at,’’ he said.
Doudle also has Jaguary chasing his third win in succession with Jacob Opperman booked to ride.
“He’s going really well. He’s confident and drawn well,’’ Doudle said.
“We’ve been able to get him into his recent races well at the weights and the claim for Jacob (Opperman) is going to be a big plus again,’’ he said.
The stable has Roxy Blue resuming after chasing home Seradess in the Listed Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville with Todd Pannell booked to ride.
“She’s had a nice jump out and has galloped well since,’’ Doudle said.
“She gets a lovely weight pull on these, she ran second in a black-type race last start and she gets two kilograms on some first starters.
“She’ll roll forward.
"Todd Pannell is the right man to ride her, he’s a lovely front running rider and the man you want on if she’s going to be vulnerable at all first-up,’’ he said.