Veteran sprinter Tiger Tees’ moment of truth is likely to come at the Gold Coast with continuing rain in south east Queensland ensuring a rain-affected track.
Retirement is looming for Tiger Tees unless he can show trainer Joe Pride he can still be competitive.
Pride has aborted two planned starts in recent weeks because of firm tracks in Sydney but with the Gold Coast track rated heavy on Monday, the $100,000 open sprint on Saturday is enticing.
“He has limited chances left and I don’t want to assess him on a hard track which he doesn’t like,” Pride said.
“That wouldn’t be fair to him so the Gold Coast race looks a good option.”
Tiger Tees won the Group One Galaxy two years ago and his most recent came later that year when he beat Royal Descent, Criterion and Sacred Falls the Group Two Warwick Stakes.
The eight-year-old is part of the family close to Pride’s heart with his younger brother Ball Of Muscle already a Group One placegetter and elder sibling Terravista heading to Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap in search of a second elite victory.
Terravista was nosed out of the Lightning Stakes by Chautauqua, a race Pride said was a Group One win that got away.
Damien Oliver’s whip slipped in the final few metres and as the jockey tried to regather it, Chautauqua stuck his nose in front.
“He’s come through that well but I believe he did lose momentum,” Pride said.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Chautauqua because he is a very good horse but it was a Group One win that got away.”
Among Pride’s Rosehill runners on Saturday will be two-year-old Kentucky Miss in the Magic Night Stakes.
Pride is not noted for producing many horses in their two-year-old season but did have a Golden Slipper runner in 2008 when Anatomica ran fourth to Sebring.
“Even if she wins, I don’t think she’s likely to head to the Slipper,” he said.
