Oink to step up in class to BRC Sires’
The oddly named but talented Oink will step up to Group Two level at Doomben after missing a planned start because of a bad barrier.
Trainer Kelly Schweida said he had no regrets about scratching him from Saturday’s Listed Hampden Stakes when the two-year-old drew gate 13.
The gelding will now run a week later in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m).
“As it turned out I think it was the right move. The winner Archives came from barrier one, the runner-up Jericho had no luck from barrier 10 and the third horse had barrier four,” Schweida said.
“In other words the inside barriers were an advantage on the day. My horse is still immature and I think he would have had problems from that start.”
The Sires’ has always been in Schweida’s mind for Oink who has won once and been placed three times from four starts.
“He showed in the Listed Ken Russell that he is up to stakes company,” Schweida said.
“I have never had a doubt that he would win a good race. But he might still be six months away from being a top horse.”
Oink is raced by a syndicate which includes friends and family of jockey Tim Bell who died last November in a fall from his apartment block in Singapore.
The coroner said the accident happened when Bell tried to climb from one apartment to another after locking himself out.
There were 17 entries taken on Monday for the Sires’ including Group Two winner Souchez for Godolphin and Group Three winner Attention from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable.