TRAINER Jason Coyle is hoping the step up to the 2000m is the key to victory for handy Excites gelding Scream Machine.
The Warwick Farm trained four-year-old who is from the same (first) crop as Excites’ stakeswinning miler/stayer Flag Officer is certain to prove hard to toss in his Rosehill assignment this weekend after encouraging efforts at his two lead up runs.
Scream Machine’s last appearance in a ten furlong race at Rosehill saw him finish over the top of his rivals to win by a length.
“He didn’t have too long a break and his two runs have been pretty good so he should be right to go to the 2000m now,” Coyle says in today’s Weekend Sportsman.
“We tried to time it so he was ready to go once the carnival had basically tied itself up in Sydney.
“He probably didn’t do himself any favours at the start (second-up), he came out a bit slow.
“Once he saw a bit of open space he got him head up and over raced a touch, ended up in a good spot and found the like okay considering he didn’t help himself out in the run.”
Coyle hasn’t earmarked any particular race, long or short term, with Scream Machine preferring to take a wait and see approach.
“His form will dictate whether he has one, two or three more runs and he’ll go for a break,” he said.
“If his form has been good enough we’d consider some races during the autumn over this sort of distance.”
Meanwhile up in Brisbane tomorrow, Excites two-year-old Midway looks capable of figuring in the BRC Mastec Handicap (1100m) after a solid debut behind the State’s gun 2YO Whiskey Allround on October 6.
Midway, trained by Barry Baldwin held his ground especially well to finish fourth behind Tony Gollan’s flying machine in their clash over 1000m.
Midway is a half-brother to five winners led by stakes-placed Saraji who has won close to $300,000 for the same connections.
