Canberra based trained Norm Gardner is hoping this Saturday's Listed N E Manion Cup will provide a clearer picture as to where he will head with handy stayer Coliseo in the next coming weeks.
Photo by Racing and Sports
While his heart breaking defeat in last week's Albury Gold Cup still remains fresh in Gardner's mind he claims he couldn't be happier with his son of Arena given he has come through the run in great order.
"His run in the Albury Gold Cup was enormous he should have won by a couple of lengths," Gardner said.
"The run was there for him and before you knew it, it just closed on him. He was still two lengths off them with 50m to go and almost got there, the way he finished was enormous.
"He's pulled up great, always does he's a really tough customer."
Having finished fourth in the N E Manion Cup last year, Gardner is confident Coliseo is a more improved horse this time around however he admits it will be his biggest challenge to date.
"It's a really tough race on Saturday, I didn't think it would be this strong," Gardner said.
"It's really going to be a test for him, it's a pretty hot field so if he can finish around the mark then it's worth going on to those other races.
"He's still got plenty of improvement left in him he's just a different horse this time in, we couldn't work him properly last preparation because he had a lot of issues.
"Now he's back 100 per cent he's definitely going to be better then what he was last time in."
Although it still remains up in the air as to where he will head with his improving stayer, Gardner claimed a tilt towards this year's Sydney Cup was not completely out of the question.
"If he really runs a good race and gets to the line well then I'll probably run in the Chairman's Handicap," Gardner said.
"If he struggles a bit which I doubt he will, I might give him three weeks between runs and give him a start in the Japan Racing Association Plate on Doncaster day and then on to the Wagga Cup.
"The owners are very keen to get him in to the Sydney Cup and I have no doubts he will run the two miles it just whether or not he is up to that level, it's always a very hard race."
