Queensland plans scrapped for Turnitaround
Matthew Williams has baulked at a Queensland trip for in-form Turnitaround to concentrate on a Victorian spring campaign.
Turnitaround will be shooting for a fourth-straight win when he contests the Ladbrokes Bet Better Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.
The gelding is a $2.60 favourite, the shortest of the day, as he attempts to extend his winning streak.
Williams considered a trip north towards the end of the winter carnival for Turnitaround but reasoned it may rule him out of some suitable spring races.
“We thought if we went to this race and then Moonee Valley two weeks after we could then give him a little break in the paddock,” Williams said.
“Then we could have him back for some of the country cups and something like the Coongy Handicap during the Caulfield carnival.”
Turnitaround began his winning sequence at Flemington on Anzac Day before scoring on his home track at Warrnambool on heavy ground in early May.
He followed up with another Flemington victory over 2000m on May 21.
Williams said Turnitaround had held his form since with only one gallop at Warrnambool.
“He’s won three straight so he’s probably been at his peak for a while but he continues to eat terrific,” Williams said.
“He’s only had the one gallop but he’s been to the dunes a couple of times and most of his other work has been at the beach but we put him over some hurdles the other day just to mix things up.
“He’s a really good jumper and he’d make a ripping hurdler but we’re happy to keep going on the flat at this stage.”
A minor concern for Williams is the drop in distance to 1800m on Saturday along with a weight rise.
A venue change from Moonee Valley to Sandown on Saturday required a distance alteration for Turnitaround’s race with it shortened from 2040m to 1800m.
Turnitaround carried 52kg when successful at Flemington and rises to 57kg on Saturday, allowing for Ben Thompson’s 3kg claim.
“I don’t suppose it’s a big factor coming back from 2000 metres to the 1800 but we would have preferred the 2000 (metres),” Williams said.