Steve Richards seeking black type glory with Knowable
HE might not be one of the headline trainers on show at Caulfield this Saturday, but Flemington-based Steve Richards has every chance of heading home with a group two feature.
Richards lines up last-start winner Knowable, which won a great form race last start and is making the rise in grade to contest the $200,000 Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.
The son of Hinchinbrook flies the flag for Richards’ stable and after winning at odds of $18 last start, the three-year-old has attracted much better support at $5.50 this time around.
Richards believes his star has come through the win well and it’s ready to face its toughest task yet.
“He’s come through that run (Flemington) fantastically,” Richards told horsebetting.com.au.
“He goes up in grade a little tomorrow, but he’s improved and he looks a treat.”
Knowable looked good at Sandown two starts back where it set a quick pace up front and Richards believes that run was better than it looked.
“I thought his run at Sandown was pretty good. He ran against the older horses there and only got beaten three-quarters-of-a-length,” Richards said.
“I thought it was a good gusty effort second-up and I had no hesitation in trying him at Flemington, back against his own age.”
Richards said the three-year-old will be better suited to the mile, but drawing the inside barrier on Saturday will ensure it gets a soft run.
“I think he’s a horse that’s going to run a mile no problem,” Richards said.
“He’ll make his own luck from barrier one. He’s going to get the run of the race and put into a good position.
“The horse is well and they’re going to know he’s there tomorrow.”
Richards also trains the promising Sunquest, which will be set towards the Sires’ later this season.
“He runs on the 22nd and all going well, he’ll head to the Sires’ Produce at Flemington,” Richards said.
“The Sires’ in Sydney is a possibility, but he won’t go to the Blue Diamond – that’s not his goal, it’s always been the Sires.”
Sunquest is currently $101 at Sportsbet to win the Inglis Sires on April 1.