‘Bulldog’ barking towards Sunshine success

Last-start winners Sebs Choice (Bettors Delight) and Its Back In The Day (Washington VC) will tackle the Pelican Waters Resort Discretionary Handicap at Redcliffe this Friday as a lead-up to the Redcliffe Cup on June 25.

“They are both aimed at the Redcliffe Cup, but the conditions state that you have to have had a standing start in the past eight months,” Phillips, who will drive Sebs Choice, said.

“We have been trialling them before we left from a stand. Seb has stepped away pretty well from barrier one at the trials and hopefully being drawn out wider he will have more of an advantage.

“He (Sebs Choice) is nearly as quick from the stand as the mobile!”

Its Back In The Day will be partnered by Luke McCarthy in the standing start event on Friday night and Phillips is confident both horses can handle the conditions.

“They have had plenty of practice at home and the trials so they should be fine. We don’t have any doubt in them,” she said.

The third of the Nicholson runners is Alby Two Chains (Captaintreacherous), who comes off an impressive Melton win and will take on the Group 3 Chris Garrard’s Patrons Purse on the same program.

“Ideally, Alby Two Chains and Sebs Choice will be both aimed at The Rising Run. We will try to find a couple more races for Alby before then,” Phillips said.

A lightly-raced eight-year-old, Its Back In The Day will also follow a path towards the Group 1 Garrards Sunshine Sprint (July 16) and the Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake (July 23).

Staying with Mark and Debbie Belford for their trip, Phillips is thrilled with how the trio has settled in.

“The horses have travelled up terrific. We couldn’t be happier with them. They fast worked (Tuesday), have pulled up a treat and are on song for Friday.”

To view complete fields for Redcliffe Friday, click here.

by Nikkita Ross, for HRV