AS strange as it sounds, trainer-driver Rohan Hillier thinks missing last week’s $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor with Triedtotellya could be a blessing in disguise.
Some terrific trackwork and a lovely barrier draw give Tasmania’s best pacer of the past decade a chance to make his first mark in the big league in Friday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup.
“If he’d come right just in time and run last week, I’m sure he’d have gone well, but he’s had a much better build-up this week and now he’s drawn well, too,” Hillier said.
Triedtotellya, who boasts 19 wins from 26 starts and 11 of his past 13, is an $11 chance from gate two in the marathon 2936m feature at Gloucester Park.
He’s got the $2.15 favourite and local star Magnificent Storm drawn inside him and an almost certain leader.
Ideally, Hillier would be able to use Triedtotellya’s renowned early speed to run out with Magnificent Storm at the start and drop in behind him for a perfect trail.
If not, he’ll be handy in the running line and hoping not to be shuffled too far back when WA’s other star, Minstrel, moves around to take his customary spot outside the leader.
“I’d have loved gate one, but I’ll certainly take two,” Hillier said. “We saw last week (Nullarbor) how Max Delight used a good draw to sit handy and win.”
Triedtotellya, who was a “bit off” and didn’t handle the flight from Melbourne to Perth, started to pick up last Thursday.
“He’s just got better every day since and geez I’ve been rapt with his past two workouts,” Hillier said.
“I can’t fault him. He’s a natural athlete and doesn’t take a lot of work, so going in a bit fresh might be a good thing.
“The weather has also been kind, not too hot. It’s actually quite like home and that’s helped.”
Hillier also isn’t fazed by the gruelling 2936m trip.
“That doesn’t bother me at all. He’s won half a dozen 2600m standing-start races and always felt strong at the finish,” he said.
He also took heart from the Tasmanian-owned Max Delight upstaging the locals in the Nullarbor last week.
“I actually used to drive him as a two-year-old, which seems like a lifetime ago. I was thrilled for the old horse and his connections,” he said.
“It was also good to see a visitor beat the locals, who we’d been told might just be too good for us.
“It’s our horse’s first go in this class and it's a bit hard to line him up, but he’s beaten Mach Dan and he’s been pretty close to Bulletproof Boy in Victoria, so we have some form line.
“Personally, I’m really excited to be part of a big race like this and see how he goes. I’d be disappointed if he’s not very competitive if he gets the right sort of run.”
The Fremantle Cup will also help decide whether Triedtotellya tackles the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.
“It’ll certainly give us a good sighter in this sort of class. If he runs well, we’ll be up to Brisbane for sure,” Hillier said.
PHOTO: Stacey Lear
