Caulfield Guineas still on the agenda for Sunquest

Knowable
Knowable is one of two stable stars for trainer Steve Richards, which includes Sunquest that lines up at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo: Racing.com

FLEMINGTON-based trainer Steve Richards is adamant Sunquest can win a Saturday premier race before winning a maiden.

The three-year-old lines up in Saturday’s Sweeney We Know West Handicap at Moonee Valley for $120,000 after producing a big performance for third in the McKenzie Stakes last time out.

The son of Helmut has yet to win from five career starts, but close up performances behind the likes of Eshtiraak and Azazel has prompted Richards to keep trying his luck at winning a Saturday premier race.

“I’m the passenger and he’s the driver,” Richards told Horsebetting.com.au. “I’m enjoying the journey so far. Where he takes me, I’m not sure, but he’s only a three-year-old on the way through and he’s promising.”

Richards knew the 1200m at The Valley last start wouldn’t ideally suit Sunquest, but he had this race in mind from the outset this spring.

“The plan was to get him the experience at Moonee Valley. He’s come through that run really good and he’s ready for his next challenge,” Richards said.

“I ran him over 1200m for the experience with this race in mind and he got around the track well, so he knows where he’s going this time up.”

Sunquest is still nominated for the Caulfield Guineas where it’s currently a $26 chance with Sportsbet.com.au and Richards has a big opinion of the up-and-coming talent.

“He ticks a lot of boxes for me. You never get ahead of yourself, but I’ve had some good horses over the years and I’d place him up there with one of the best I’ve had,” Richards said.

“That’s the opinion I have of him, but we just need to get to the final destination.

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“I gave him a run as a two-year-old – he was never going to be a two-year-old, but I thought I’d try bring him back in 12 months time for the Guineas.”

Shin soreness has plagued its career to date which forced Richards to pull the plug on its autumn campaign after pulling up sore when finishing fifth at Sandown behind Eshtiraak.

“He’s had trouble with his shins,” explained Richards. “I had the Sires’ Produce in mind at Flemington, but we went to Sandown where he finished fifth and he pulled up shinny after that.

“We had to abandon the autumn, but he’s come back from a good break and has gotten over his shin soreness.

“The future will be clearer again after Saturday.”

Richards has another quality gelding in the stable with Knowable. The four-year-old has won two of its nine starts, but produced a less than impressive performance at Flemington last month.

Richards couldn’t find the reason why it ran 13th in a rating 70 race having entered the race as a group two-placed performer.

“He wasn’t looking right, you could tell in his coat and I was very disappointed at Flemington,” Richards said. “He had his chance, but didn’t finish off.

“His bloods came back alright so we cleaned him up and he looks superb.”

Richards hasn’t put a time frame on when it will next run, but believes it will be back to its best which saw it run second behind oak Door in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes.

“I’ve recharged him and he’ll have a jump out on Friday,” he said. “I think he’s bounced back terrifically – just unsure what happened last start, but something wasn’t quite right.

“I won’t give him a time for his next run, I won’t put that pressure on my head and he’ll run when he’s ready.”

Sweeney We Know West Handicap betting

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