Qld Guineas a chance for Divine Mr Artie
Divine Mr Artie could be a surprise starter in the Queensland Guineas if a suitable flight from Melbourne can be arranged.
Trainer Brendan McCarthy expects to learn on Thursday afternoon whether Divine Mr Artie can be flown to Brisbane for the Group Two race at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Otherwise the son of Artie Schiller will contest the 1600m-Ladbrokes Mega Margin Handicap for three-year-olds at Sandown on Saturday.
“I think it (the Queensland Guineas) has dropped away a bit from what it was going to be so we’re looking at quite possibly going up,” McCarthy said.
“We’re looking at flights for that at the moment so we’re in a bit of holding pattern.”
Divine Mr Artie is yet to race beyond 1400m but has produced two solid performances at his only two attempts at the distance.
He was touched out in the final few strides by Tango Rock over 1400m at Sandown last week which suggested to McCarthy he would handle further.
“Now that he’s matured a bit and can sit and come around them I think the extra ground won’t be a problem,” McCarthy said.
“He relaxed well early in the race the other day but he actually picked them up a bit too quickly.
“He got to the front around the 200 metres and if he had that time to balance up a little bit more I think he would have hit the line strongly.
“He got a bit lost in front and I think he’s better off when he can chase.”