Positive feedback from two leading Sydney jockeys has trainer Anthony Warren quietly confident that Minks Written can be competitive in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle despite her rank outsider tag.
The debutante was posted at $61 on Thursday in a market that priced six of the eight runners – all first starters – at single-figure odds with betting sites.
However, the filly has twice performed well in barrier trials in Sydney, edged out by subsequent midweek placegetter Enchanted By at her first public appearance and closing strongly for fifth in her second hitout which featured Godolphin filly and Kirkham Stakes placed Lapis Lazuli.
She was beaten over nine lengths in her most recent heat at Goulburn, but Warren pointed out Minks Written was there for one purpose only.
“She did get an embargo early days in her Randwick trials. She wasn’t bad in the gates, just difficult to load as she is quite a hot filly,” Warren said.
“We decided to trial her at home in that third trial and we really didn’t push her at all. She was just there to get her barrier ticket back and coast around.
“I am actually gobsmacked she is that price.
“Her two Randwick trials were as good as anything else that has trialled in that race.”
Nash Rawiller and Regan Bayliss were aboard for the Sydney hitouts, and both were upbeat about Minks Written.
Bayliss has been booked to partner her in Saturday’s Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle where she will sport blinkers after working strongly in them on Tuesday.
“Nash rode her in the first trial and had pretty positive reports about her and Regan said the same, so he was more than happy to get on,” Warren said.
Warren has only been training seriously for the past four years but he has been around horses and racing for significantly longer.
He currently has up to 20 in work at Goulburn, including some promising young gallopers.
“I’m a farrier by trade so I’ve shod a lot of horses in Sydney, and I have been in and around racing for the best part of twenty years now,” Warren said.
“I just started mucking around with a couple of horses we owned ourselves, then about four years ago we went a bit more commercial.
“It’s starting to come to fruition now with these babies coming through.”
Warren also has first emergency Scarli Japali in the Highway Handicap (1600m) and expects the lightly raced mare to be competitive if she gains a start.
