Tom Dabernig, the Warrnambool trainer, is enthusiastic about Oliveanotherday’s upcoming start at Caulfield this Sunday in the Manikato Stakes. However, he has noted a minor issue prior to the four-year-old’s maiden Group 1 appearance.
The gelding enters the $2 million event following his least successful run, a fifth place in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington on September 12. His initial experience on the straight track was pinpointed as the primary reason for this defeat.
Dabernig has suggested that another element might have influenced the outcome, which Oliveanotherday might have to confront again this weekend in the 1200-metre weight-for-age contest.
“I think it was just a case of straight first time and Good 3 track,” Dabernig said.
“I’m not totally blaming the Good 3, but I’m sure that he’s best runs for me have been on softer going.”
He added, “He’s been very good here at Caulfield, so I’m just hoping that back at Caulfield he’ll accelerate off the bend and third-up be better than he was second-up.”
“He was only beaten 1.6 lengths and the winner came from the inside, the horses in the centre didn’t figure too much, so it might have been a combination of things.”
“But, I must admit, a Good 3 track would be my concern.”
Oliveanotherday has a strong record, winning six of his nine starts, with two of those victories on Good 4 tracks. The Bobbie Lewis Quality was his first start on a Good 3 surface.
Caulfield, a track where Oliveanotherday has won twice on the main course and once on the Heath track, was upgraded to a Good 3 during last Saturday’s racing. Dabernig is hopeful that the predicted showers on Saturday will materialise after warm conditions on Thursday and Friday.
Despite the disappointment of Oliveanotherday’s five-race winning streak ending at Flemington, Dabernig believes the hit-out against established sprinters will benefit him before he faces Group 1 contenders such as Beiwacht, Jimmysstar, and Giga Kick this weekend.
“The winner of that race has win six times down the straight and they’re all six and seven-year-olds and we’re only a four-year-old and only lightly-raced,” Dabernig commented.
“So, we were inexperienced and there were all those other factors there, so when you reflect on it all, there were probably reasons (for the result).”
The final nominations for the Manikato Stakes, along with other races on the card including Pride Of Jenni’s pursuit of a third consecutive win in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes, will be finalised on Wednesday morning. Check out the latest online bookmakers for the Manikato Stakes.