A chance discussion with a rival trainer has led to New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run sale graduate The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) being targeted at the inaugural running of The Country Discovery at Sale.
The $500,000 race over 1100m headlines the meeting after an amendment to the Victorian Government’s Racing Act last year has enabled racing to be conducted on Good Friday.
Trainer Cliff Brown was talking to Jamie Edwards who alerted The Inferno’s trainer to the race.
The Inferno was scheduled to contest the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on March 25 but was a race morning scratching.
Brown said The Inferno had a ‘sore foot’ on the morning of the race but would have been right to go had the race been run the following day.
“He had a pulse in his foot,” Brown said.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t treat it being the day of the race and he was right to go the next day.
“These things come and go, they’re here one day and gone the next.
“But we’ll be definitely heading to Sale.”
Nominations for the inaugural Good Friday meeting close on April 11, and a horse of The Inferno’s calibre would be a good get for the race.
The Inferno has not raced since suffering interference and almost falling in the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes (1100m) at Flemington in February.
That was the former star of Singapore racing’s first start since running in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick last October.
The Inferno was beaten only once in nine starts in Singapore before Brown relocated to Australia with the gelding scoring in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at The Valley last September.
Brown said the $500,000 Gr.1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21 was also on the agenda for The Inferno.
