HOOKED and Star Rolling are chasing a two-State stakes double in honour of their sire Casino Prince this weekend.
Whittlsea resident Star Rolling is the first to go, he’ll start one of the more fancied runners in the Group 2 MRC Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Star Rolling opened his spring campaign with a typically tough and determined win in the Group 2 MRC P. B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 16.
Co-trainer Peter Morgan admits that he is concerned about the threat posed by the quick early tempo of The Cleaner in the Group 2, but he is happy with the condition of the Casino Prince gelding and told Sky Racing HQ that he has taken plenty of benefit out of his first-up win in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16.
“He wasn’t quiet wound up for Caulfield and we thought that we would get an easier run from the barrier,” Morgan said.
“He was wide going around the turn and to win like he did was really a top run.
“He will be a lot fitter on Saturday for sure.
“I’m am not sure where we want to be, The Cleaner goes out pretty hard and I’m not sure if we really want to take the field up to him, so I am not sure what we are going to do.
“We are going to just look at the pattern of racing before his race and just work it out as the time comes.”
Star Rolling has won 5 of his 12 starts with two placings.
Meanwhile in Sydney, the eternally consistent Hooked gets his chance for a well earned reward when he tackles the Group 2 ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Hooked was a model of consistency in the autumn finishing 5th in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas before his brave 3rd in the AJC Derby.
The John Thompson trained 4YO caught the eye with a rock solid first-up 4th at Rosehill behind Chelmsford Stakes favourite Entirely Platinum.
