Racing: Stable on Plan B for Bobby Dee

Bobby Dee (outside) will contest the Schweppes Handicap (2000m) at Randwick today. Photo / Trish Dunell

Connections of talented 3-year-old stayer Bobby Dee are looking to Randwick today as plan B after the gelding was stranded on the ballot for both the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m).

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner will take on older gallopers in today's Schweppes Handicap (2000m) for which he has drawn barrier two.

"He travelled down to Sydney last week and settled in well to Bjorn [Baker's] stable and his plans will depend on how he goes on Saturday," Forsman said.

"If he is competitive, then we would have to look at other options because there is good stake money to be won over there and I guess we will have to reassess and talk to the owners as to what they want to do."

With a Group 2-placing in the Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie preceding a win over older rivals at Te Rapa, Bobby Dee looked to have the upward trajectory of a genuine Queensland Derby contender.

However, he was never a factor in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm, in which he finished eighth, and as a result he narrowly missed a Derby start.

"His run in the Grand Prix was pretty disappointing. He just sort of plugged away without doing much at all," Forsman said.

"The rain-affected track on Saturday [heavy9] will certainly bring him into it and although the month between runs isn't ideal, he does seem fit and he worked up to the mark on Tuesday by all accounts. So, all we can do is line him up and place him in a race that looks pretty suitable.

"I think 2000m on a heavy track at this point in his preparation is ideal. He is not the sort of horse that needs a lot of racing and often his best races have been on the fresh side, so he will certainly get his chance and he is well."

James Innes jnr will ride from barrier two and Forsman said he would not be surprised to see Bobby Dee ridden more positively than in the Grand Prix Stakes.

"He can race up on the pace and I think the way they ride Randwick these days when it is going to be wet, they all seem to skirt off the inside pretty quickly, but I think they over-play it a bit," he said.

"If he is down on the inner and can cut the corner and angle out down the middle in the straight, I think that would be ideal."

Meanwhile, the Baker-Forsman team will have a host of runners on the home front, headed by New York Minute and Tomelilla in today's Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m).

The pair finished first and third, respectively, in last year's renewal of the race and Forsman believes New York Minute, a $5-chance with the TAB fixed odds, can quickly bounce back from her last-start failure at Trentham, where she finished last of six runners.

Stablemate Tomelilla ($23) has been plain in her last couple of races and the broodmare barn might be beckoning if she fails to flatter today.

"She has been competitive in this sort of race and we're not sure what to make of her last start. It was too bad to be true and she has galloped well since," Forsman said.

Forsman said Elle Eye Are was a good chance of returning to the winners' circle in the Zest Premier (1600m) at Tauranga.

- NZ Racing Desk