With runners at seven different venues across four states on Saturday, Sydney trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald are in for a hectic afternoon, and it will culminate on the other side of the country.
The pair have horses competing at Randwick, Wyong and Dubbo in NSW, Pakenham in Victoria, and Ipswich and Eagle Farm in Queensland, while Numerian will fly the flag in Perth as he bids for back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m).
The stable has already raided the Ascot coffers with Port Lockroy taking out the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) last month and Neasham is hoping Numerian can continue their fruitful carnival.
“He is a big chance. He won the race last year and it probably looks a race between him and Socks Nation,” Neasham said.
“His run was good in the Northerly Stakes. He was caught four-wide, no cover the trip and he loomed up. He hadn’t run for six weeks and just got tired late so it was a big run.
“He has done well since and we got one with Port Lockroy, so we’ll try to get another one.”
Numerian finished seventh in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) and leading local jockey Clint Johnston-Porter sticks with him.
The gelding took out the Van Heemst Stakes last year before finishing fourth in the Perth Cup and again holds a nomination for the staying feature on New Years’ Day.
Closer to home, West Of Africa will be a key runner for the yard at Randwick when he resumes in the TAB Handicap (1300m).
The gelding won three of his seven starts last preparation and usually performs well fresh, although Neasham expects him to take benefit from Saturday’s outing.
“He will improve for the run, but he is a quality horse and his trial was good,” she said.
“He can pull out a run fresh and the 1300 is probably an ideal starting point as well.”
Tyler Schiller rides West Of Africa from barrier seven.