Les Ross, the trainer behind the Mishani machine, was as laid back as ever when asked about Mishani Sniper’s Rockhampton trip where the last start winner will be looking to snare the major share of the $775,000 prize-money on offer in The Archer, Queensland’s richest regional race.
The Archer, a slot race in which twelve slot holders select their preferred runners, was never on the radar at all for Ross, even when Mishani Sniper stormed to victory in a Quality Open Handicap at Doomben on April 13, just two weeks before The Archer race itself … but a phone call changed that.
“It wasn’t even a thought,” said Ross. “Steele Ryan (who is a slot holder) rang on the Monday after that win. He was looking for a horse for The Archer. He said, ‘your horse can carry weight’ and things progressed from there.
“I just worry about the 1300m,” continued Ross. “If it was 1100m … I’d say we were right in it. If it were 1200m … I’d say we get it … just!
“It’s his first time over 1300m. It is a long straight. You wouldn’t want to present him too early … he might run out of legs, but it is not an overly strong field when you look at them.
“He got the 1200m at Doomben … but, he didn’t get the 1200m at Eagle Farm with the long straight, but they are two different tracks.
“At Rocky … if we can just keep him bottled up and produce him late … well, fingers crossed.
“I think he is third in the betting and probably entitled to be so.
“It’s definitely worth a shot. You can’t win it if you are not in it.”
Mishani Sniper, a six-time winner with prize-money earnings of just shy of $450 000, will be ridden by Noel Callow.
