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Perth trainer Trevor Andrews says it's up to Western Australian Guineas winner King Saul whether he chases autumn riches in Sydney this year or heads home for a spell.
Andrews was willing to forgive the boom three-year-old's 10th placing in a tough Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm last fortnight but hinted he might cut short King Saul's Rosehill Guineas program if he wasn't up to the mark in Saturday's Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
“It gives us a bit of a yardstick to where we are but he's got to stand up and be counted his next start or so, otherwise he'll probably be coming home and we'll look after him for next time round,” Andrews said.
“I'd like to see him hitting the line a bit. He's obviously drawn wide, he's going to get back but you'd like to see them attacking the line a bit to justify going on with it.
“They ran a record [in the Royal Sovereign] and were a bit short and sharp for him, and it was his first time that way.
“The run was only fair but I think he'll benefit from the hit out and experience. He's going well he worked well on the main grass there yesterday [Tuesday] and there are no issues with him.”
Ideally, the third placegetter in last year's Group One Kingston Town Classic (1800m) will run well on Saturday, step into the Randwick Guineas (1600m) a fortnight later, and peak in a month over 10 furlongs at Rosehill.
If the Flying Pegasus gelding had impressed enough by that stage, Andrews might even honour his nomination in $1.5m the Australian Derby (2400m).
“That was always the plan, to have him cranked up for the Rosehill Guineas when we first got up there,” Andrews said.
“We entered him for the Derby just in case he does get over the ground a bit. It's all about relaxing with three-year-olds isn't it, whether they get a trip or not.
“He's very relaxed. It's pretty hard to say until you try him but he is out of a Zabeel mare and all that sort of thing.
“He's got a fair bit of Zabeel about him, he was a scopey sort of a yearling.
“When you've got good money on offer in Sydney like at the moment it doesn't hurt to stick your toe in the water so to speak and have a bit of a look.”