Michael Hickmott seemingly had Saturday’s $55,000 Matrix Solar Solutions Handicap at his mercy, but while he has passed up the opportunity with Ad Astra, he remains a strong chance of victory.
The astute trainer will start Dyer in the 1100-metre event at Gawler, which is the feature meeting in South Australia this weekend.
Dyer was rated a $10 chance when Ad Astra was the odds-on favourite, but with Hickmott electing to send Ad Astra to Moonee Valley on Friday night, Dyer is into $6.
Ad Astra is not only one fewer talented rival that Dyer has to contend with, but he moves one spot closer to the inside fence in the field that is now down to eight, which Hickmott considers important.
“He had a jumpout on Monday morning at Murray Bridge and from a (good) gate he’ll be hard to beat,” Hickmott said.
“We just had to ride him overly conservative the other day from a bad gate.”
That was in the $105,000 Rebel Raider Series Final (1200m), when beaten 2-1/4 lengths by Karavas after starting from the outside alley, with Hickmott suggesting his second placing at Morphettville the start prior was a better indication of how he is going.
“He was really good the start before when he got the right run, but then we just had to ride him a bit upside down from the awkward draw,” he said.
“It was quite a strong race the other day, so I think this is very suitable for him.”
The recently-married Jess Tzaferis, nee Eaton, who rode Dyer to his maiden victory on debut, renews acquaintances with the son of Zousain for the first time this campaign.
Dyer is named after Richmond immortal Jack Dyer and counts Tigers premiership players Nathan Broad, Liam Baker and Jack Graham among the ownership group.
That trio are also involved in Time Test five-year-old Braveman’sgame, who is $5 second favourite in the Crane Services Class 2 Handicap (1200m) that is the penultimate event.