What’s New will line up in the Fortune’s Bowl on Sunday
The Cliff Brown-trained What’s New (NZ) (Casino Prince) will resume in this Sunday’s Fortune Bowl (1400m) with her trainer hoping of a good run.
As planned by the Australian handler, the traditional Lunar New Year feature race will be the starting point to her 2020 campaign and serve as a guide to her current form following the Christmas break.
Brown defended What’s New’s defeats in the Singapore Triple Crown series. To him, the game winner of the first two Legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge last year had valid excuses to explain her unplaced runs.
“If you watch her replays in the EW Barker and the QEII Cup, nothing went right for her,” said Brown.
“She had excuses and hopefully that break since the Barker has done her a world of good.
“We’ll find out where she is at in the Fortune Bowl. She trialled really well last Thursday (January 16 when sixth to Bold Thruster), but a lot will also come down to the barrier draw.”
The daughter of Casino Prince certainly met with a lot of traffic problems in both the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) and EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
After drawing one in the QEII Cup, she was travelling sweetly on the fence, but clipped heels with Mr Clint (NZ) (Power) at the halfway mark and lost considerable ground. Three weeks later, she was again tightened for room, both at the start and inside the concluding stages of the race.
With the special weight conditions set for the Fortune Bowl What’s New will be lightly weighted. Brown has booked lightweight jockey Patrick Moloney for What’s New (54.5kgs).