MTR duo set to tackle Royal Randwick Highway

Michael Travers will leave no stone unturned in his attempt to land a breakthrough metropolitan victory.
Heading up the Hume Highway to Sydney on Friday, Michael will stay overnight with Swinging High (Rachel King, 55kg) and Teresprit (Molly Bourke, 54kg), who are set to tackle the $120,000 Class Three Highway Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The pair have drawn nicely, with last-start Queanbeyan winner Teresprit set to jump from gate two, while the in-form Swinging High is currently drawn in gate four.
Teresprit, who will only carry 52kg after Bourke’s three-kilogram claim, gets in nicely following a decisive win in a 1460m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Queanbeyan on October 12.
Stablemate Swinging High has been racing well, with back-to-back wins at Goulburn and Wagga in August, followed up by an eye-catching sixth, beaten only 1.19 lengths in the 1400m Class Three highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on September 13.
Most recently, Swinging High flashed late to finish a nice second behind the handy sprinter and subsequent Wagga winner Off The Press at Wagga on September 29, when taking on an unsuitable 1000m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Unfortunately, a late scratching at Rosehill Gardens earlier this month, the 5YO Trapeze Artist mare has since trialled at Wagga on October 18, running a good second over the 1000m.
Despite both Teresprit and Swinging High being ruled as outsiders by bookmakers, MTR is quietly confident of a strong showing in town.
It’s set to be a big day for MTR, with runners also going around at Albury and Harden on Saturday.
At Albury, Graham, Jaimie, and Andy are on deck as Extra Hands (Blaike McDougall, 55kg) and Winning Winnie (Rebecca Bronett Prag, 53.5kg) jump from gate seven and one, respectively, in the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1500m).
Later on the program, Deep Joy (Cory Parish, 56.5kg) and Santolini (Rebecca Bronett Prag, 55kg) have drawn gate eight and five, respectively, in the Class One Handicap (1000m).
Charlie is looking after the team at the Harden picnic meeting, with Scruff’s Magic (Anaelle Gangotena, 62kg) drawing gate three in the Open Trophy Handicap (1100m), while last-start Young placegetter Suncone(Leandro Ribeiro, 65kg) has drawn nicely with gate two in the Maiden Plate (1300m).
MTR may then back up at Wangaratta on Monday, with a handful of gallopers nominated to race.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Lance Fearne

