Flemington trainer goes round the bend

Darryl Sherer - Wednesday August 9

Flemington trainer Steve Richards is confident a return to racing around a bend will see Knowable bounce back on his home track on Saturday.

Advertisement
Steve Richards. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Knowable resumed at Flemington on July 22 over 1100m and Richards said the straight course and the way the race was run resulted in what looks a plain effort on paper.

"They went real slow early and he got up over racing which was not ideal," Richards said.

"Under the circumstances to be beaten 3 1/2-lengths behind Hay Bale and Tahi was not a bad effort under the circumstances and he'll be a lot better around a bend on Saturday."

Knowable scored over 1400m at Flemington in January before finishing third to Oak Door in the Group III Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.

One of 52 nominations for the BM70 Handicap over 1400m, Richards says the step up in trip on Saturday is also a major positive for the son of Hinchinbrook.

"The trip is right up his alley, he's not really built to be a sprinter, he's got length about him and there's a bit of stamina on his dam side," Richards said.

"He's an on pace runner and he can hold a position so I'm confident he can get out over even a bit further later on.

"We've booked Chris Caserta to ride. He'll take three (kilograms) off his back which brings the horse in well and Chris came over last week to ride the horse."

Knowable has pleased Richards on the track since his first-up run but is concerned about one factor beyond his control.

"With the rail out 10 metres on Saturday I really want a single figure barrier," Richards said. "The 1400(m) start is difficult enough and a wide gate is not something you want.

"Everything about the race on Saturday is right for him and I think he's up to them so we just need some luck with the barrier draw."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.