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SYDNEY - Transtasman trainer Mike Moroney has scrapped Sydney plans for his star New Zealand 3-year-old Jokers Wild, and will instead aim him at group one sprints in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Moroney initially raised the prospect of tackling the A$2.25 million ($2.5 million) Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 9 after the colt's third to Miss Finland in last Saturday's group one Australian Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in Melbourne.
But concerns over the Sydney weather and Jokers Wild's ability to see out a tough 1600m at Randwick has seen a change to plan B - the group one Goodwood Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville, Adelaide, on May 6 instead.
"We looked at Sydney and thought the Doncaster would appeal but you're solely gambling on the weather over Easter and we just didn't want to take the punt," Moroney told Melbourne's the Age newspaper.
"He's a valuable sire of the future and he sprints well when fresh and could get into the Goodwood with a very nice weight.
"He's pretty ordinary on wet tracks so we want to avoid them wherever we can."
Safely through Adelaide, Jokers Wild will likely to sent to the Brisbane winter carnival where the group one Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) beckons on June 9.
- NZPA
