PREPARATIONS BEGIN FOR AYRTON

Ayrton to have a trial before Stradbroke

Ayrton is likely to have a tune up before as his preparations towards a changing Winter Carnival Plan are beginning to take shape.

The training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr were planning to run Ayrton in the Group One Doomben Cup and perhaps a challenge in the Q22 before a poor showing in the Group 2 Hollindale at the Gold Coast demanded a rethink.

When finishing 13 lengths down the track to star import Zaaki, Kent Jr admitted that the performance was well below that of Ayrtons real ability.

“I think it was a combination of factors, being second-up and he pulled himself into the ground as well,” Kent Jr said.

“He was beaten too far for it to be a true indication of his ability. He was gone at the top of the straight.”

As a result of the poor showing Price and Kent Jr switched there attention to the Group One Stradbroke Handicap on the 11th June.

Ayrton, although not originally nominated for the Eagle Farm showpiece in June connections have been willing to pay the late entry fee to see there runner installed as an $8 chance in betting.

“We want to trial him next Tuesday but they’re getting called off left right and centre up there so we’ll just see how that goes,” Kent Jr said.

“He galloped on Saturday and our foreman that is up there with him and Annavisto reported he was more clean-winded than expected so we think he’s in a great spot.

“He’s fit and we’re going to have him nice and fresh going back to 1400m.

“He’s got time for four or five more gallops before the Stradbroke so he’ll be cherry ripe.”

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