Change of scenery could transform Sweet Agenda

Clean air with a change of scenery might be the transformation Sweet Agenda (Sweet Lou) needs to reach new heights in the City of Melton Plate XXXV at Victorian harness racing headquarters this Saturday night.

Dunnstown trainer-driver David Murphy recently took the four-year-old into his care from Charlton conditioner Shane Sanderson after he noticed a respiratory issue.

“Shane has always like her, he just thought that she might have had some breathing issues when she was training in Charlton, which is a bit dusty,” Murphy said. “Shane just said to give me a go and it’s not quite as dusty in Ballarat.

“When she came to us, we had green feed in the paddock and a change of environment can help these horses.”

Since taking over, the 53-year-old Murphy has found the pacer a dream to work with.

“She is a lovely mare, she is very fast. Her win at Charlton, she won with the earplugs in, so she has certainly got that high speed and that high cruising speed,” he said. “My gut feeling is that she shouldn’t be used too much out of the mobile.

“We have only had her for two runs, so sometimes it does take a little bit into your prep to know which way they would like to be driven, to know what they can and cannot do, but with her speed I’m confident she will be up to these big races.”

Sweet Agenda’s last run was last Saturday night at Bendigo where David’s son, Brent, piloted the mare.

“She had a tough run at Bendigo on Saturday night,” he said.” She just did too much out of the mobile. Brent drove her and he went a little bit fast to get the front, but she has pulled up well.”

The daughter of Sweet Lou has drawn two for the $50,000 feature, and Murphy himself is back at the controls this Saturday night.

“She might not be up to this grade, but I think she is,” he said. “I’ll have a go and over the longer trip sort of be the first one to the pegs and hand up. That would be our best option at this stage.”

Emma Stewart-trained multiple Group 1 winner The Lost Storm will make his return to the track after a five-month spell and will likely start favourite in the event.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria