Scream Park on Trial for Karaka 3YO Million

Tara Madgwick - Thursday January 4
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Scream Park tackles the ATC Owners Benefit Card Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday in his final lead-up to the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 27.

Scream ParkThe son of Ocean Park, purchased at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for $185,000, has won his last two starts at Warwick Farm over 1400m and a mile respectively.

"Coming back in distance is the big query," Waller said.

"We want to switch him off and get him to relax because in three weeks' time he's likely to head to New Zealand for a million-dollar race.

"At his last two runs we've learnt nothing. One was a heavy track and he lead and last start he beat a three-horse field, where he did everything right, but I am not sure how strong the opposition were.

"He will get a true test here. We'd like to ride him a bit more conservatively from the outside gate and get in behind a few if we can."

Hugh Bowman will partner Scream Park (image Steve Hart) on Saturday in the A$100,000 contest for which he is a $3.20 favourite in the early market.

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