Racing: Scattergun gets ready to let loose

SYDNEY - Scattergun has big boots to fill.

The talented 4-year-old is trained by Balmerino's mentor Brian Smith and his jockey will wear the colours of the mighty Bonecrusher in tomorrow's Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill, Sydney.

The colours come courtesy of Peter Mitchell, a friend of Smith's since their school days in Auckland, who owns both Scattergun and Bonecrusher.

Scattergun has travelled from Queensland to Sydney with a promising reputation from racing judges, who were impressed with his effort in making the opposition look second-rate in a 2050m event at Doomben on September 2.

Smith, now based in Brisbane, said Scattergun had earned his chance in Sydney, but has sounded a warning about his prospects in the group three A$100,000 ($114,000) Kingston Town.

"It's a very good field, and there are some nice young horses in it," he told Sydney radio station 2KY this week. "It's only a mile and a quarter (2000m) on Saturday and it will be a test."

Scattergun was an unlucky fifth in the Queensland Derby in June after travelling wide, before having a brief break from racing. Brisbane apprentice Ric McMahon retains the ride tomorrow.

Scattergun holds a nomination for the group one A$600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on October 7 and tomorrow's run will give an indication of whether he is ready to step up to that company.

His opponents in the Kingston Town include the Graeme Rogerson-trained Activation, Oh Oklahoma, Dizelle and Bling Bling from Chris Waller's stable.

Meanwhile, in Melbourne tomorrow, Sarrera has his second run this spring for transtasman trainer Mike Moroney in the Simon Wragg and Associates Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley.

Sarrera and Genebel are Moroney's best chances of having a runner in the Melbourne Cup this year and Sarrera, a 6-year-old gelding, showed he was forward with his run at Caulfield on September 2. He only finished 11th, but was blocked for a run, Moroney said.

"He's an exciting stayer. With clear running at Caulfield, he could have won," he said.

Sarrera's opponents tomorrow include the New Zealand stayer Black Panther, who is now in Lee Freedman's stable, and Penitentiary.

Black Panther was blocked for a run in the same 1400m race at Caulfield as Sarrera and did well to finish fifth.

He should improve further, while Penitentiary, from Richard Otto's stable, usually goes well fresh.

- NZPA