Heavy questions for G3 Ming Dynasty field
The runners in the Ming Dynasty Quality are almost all in the same boat as they test whether they can navigate a watery Randwick track.
Persistent rain has soaked the track ahead of Saturday’s Group Three race for three-year-olds, with more than 35mm falling since Thursday evening.
Of the seven runners, only Shazee Lee and Argentina have been on heavy ground for a win and a seventh respectively.
Bit Dusty’s trainer John Sargent will rely on the gelding’s breeding which he says indicates he should handle a wet surface.
“As long as he handles the track he should run a very big race,” Sargent said.
“I think he’s a smart horse.”
As well as his wet track capabilities, Sargent is also looking for a guide on what races to target in the spring.
Bit Dusty won on debut at Newcastle on August 16, edging out Godolphin colt Bryneich and the Gerald Ryan-trained Star Of Monsoon.
All three are nominated for the Caulfield Guineas.
“We rode him out of his zone a bit at Newcastle,” Sargent said.
“I think being left alone is better for him but you have to ride Newcastle like that when you draw inside,” Sargent said.
Prominent owner Peter Horwitz bred Bit Dusty and races him with his family and his mate Doug Thompson.
“You wouldn’t get a luckier owner than Peter. He’s had some great horses,” Sargent said.
Skylight Glow’s debut win was on a soft track at Canterbury and she made it back-to-back wins at Randwick on May 28.
Trainer James Cummings says the form guide doesn’t reflect how wet the track was for her latest win.
“It reads good track when she won at Randwick but it was raining on the day and that was the first race so it was downgraded,” Cummings said.
Cummings said Skylight Glow had beaten colts and geldings as a two-year-old and is drawn to get a good run from barrier three.
Skylight Glow and Bit Dusty are both $7, while the Scott Singleton-trained Shazee Lee is the outsider of the field at $15.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have $3.20 favourite Taj Mahal and $11 chance Argentina.