Trish Dunell Photography
A question of travel was put to Megablast at Ellerslie and, just as he did earlier in the year, his answer was a resounding yes to Australia.
The Nigel Tiley-trained stayer won by a big margin on the course in May ahead of a two-start Melbourne campaign and his victory in Saturday’s Bridges Insurance 1600 has set up a return trip across the Tasman.
This time though, his first port of call will be Sydney where his connections believe the underfoot conditions will be more to the gelding’s liking.
“The tracks there should suit him,” Tiley said. “He copes on top of the ground, but he is so much better with the cut out of it.”
The Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Randwick on September 16 could a likely starting point for Megablast.
“I’ll nominate him for the Metropolitan as well and on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup,” Tiley said. “It could be a wet spring in Melbourne, you never know.”
Opposite conditions prevailed in Victoria in June when Tiley produced Megablast to finish runner-up at Moonee Valley and eighth at Flemington.
“The tracks were too firm for him,” he said. “Even the day he ran second at Moonee Valley it was chipping out on top, but it was really hard underneath.”
Megablast showed he was in grand order for his upcoming venture when he made light of his 60kg on Saturday to romp home with rider Michael Coleman the quietest of passengers.
“I had no problem with the weight, he was the best horse in the race,” Tiley said. “He’s got plenty of class.” – NZ Racing Desk.