Trainer Shane Baertschiger knew it was a matter of time before Polytrack specialist Lincoln Road (NZ) (Swiss Ace) would have his first crack at a turf race.
The Australian handler had always said that the tag was more fortuitous than anything for the Swiss Ace five-year-old as such races just slotted into his programme then, and since he was on a roll, there was no real need to change a winning formula.
But when Sunday's $200,000 Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) popped up on the horizon, Baertschiger felt it was time to test the new waters.
Lincoln Road boasts an outstanding record on the alternative surface: Never out of the placings in seven runs for five wins, all racked up consecutively, followed by one second and one third.
While some may think it was a bit of a gamble to throw the New Zealand-bred off at the deep end for such a first turf assignment, Baertschiger thought why not?
"It will be his first test on grass, but he will have no weight on his back, only 50.5kg," said the Australian handler, who currently sits in seventh spot on the premiership on 38 winners.
"Obviously, Spalato may be at his racing comeback and is giving us weight (seven kilos) but he will still be the horse to beat. If he doesn't bleed, he wins, but take him out of the race, it's an even contest.
"I was very happy with his last race when he ran second to Good News (in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy over 1200m). He should have been five kilos off the winner at the handicap but he still did a good job to finish second to him, beaten off only a length."
With not many senior jockeys who can make the postage-stamp weight on the Lincoln Farms Stable-owned gelding, Baertschiger has turned to a lightweight rider he does not book all that often, but whom he hoped could bring him some luck in the Garden City Trophy.
"With that weight, obviously (regular partner) John Powell cannot make it. I picked Bossy, who rode for me once, on Flak Jacket, and he finished second," said Baertschiger.
"I told him he has to go one better if he wants to improve on our record together!
"He hasn't jumped on Lincoln Road in trackwork but he doesn't have to. Bossy's a top jockey and knows what he's doing." -STC
The Australian handler had always said that the tag was more fortuitous than anything for the Swiss Ace five-year-old as such races just slotted into his programme then, and since he was on a roll, there was no real need to change a winning formula.
But when Sunday's $200,000 Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) popped up on the horizon, Baertschiger felt it was time to test the new waters.
Lincoln Road boasts an outstanding record on the alternative surface: Never out of the placings in seven runs for five wins, all racked up consecutively, followed by one second and one third.
While some may think it was a bit of a gamble to throw the New Zealand-bred off at the deep end for such a first turf assignment, Baertschiger thought why not?
"It will be his first test on grass, but he will have no weight on his back, only 50.5kg," said the Australian handler, who currently sits in seventh spot on the premiership on 38 winners.
"Obviously, Spalato may be at his racing comeback and is giving us weight (seven kilos) but he will still be the horse to beat. If he doesn't bleed, he wins, but take him out of the race, it's an even contest.
"I was very happy with his last race when he ran second to Good News (in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy over 1200m). He should have been five kilos off the winner at the handicap but he still did a good job to finish second to him, beaten off only a length."
With not many senior jockeys who can make the postage-stamp weight on the Lincoln Farms Stable-owned gelding, Baertschiger has turned to a lightweight rider he does not book all that often, but whom he hoped could bring him some luck in the Garden City Trophy.
"With that weight, obviously (regular partner) John Powell cannot make it. I picked Bossy, who rode for me once, on Flak Jacket, and he finished second," said Baertschiger.
"I told him he has to go one better if he wants to improve on our record together!
"He hasn't jumped on Lincoln Road in trackwork but he doesn't have to. Bossy's a top jockey and knows what he's doing." -STC