CHRISTMAS HANDICAP PREVIEW Bu OSLSAs Turf Guru - Graham Fischer Racehorse trainer Gary Kennewell admits the time-honoured Christmas Handicap is a race he would love to win. Not only for the prestige and stakemoney but because of the race’s history and its origins at the now defunct Cheltenham racecourse. “I’m a Port boy from way back,” Kennewell said. “My racing beginnings were at Cheltenham and everyone would like to win a feature race at their home track. “The Christmas Handicap is no longer held at Cheltenham but because of its history I would still love to take it out.” Two years ago Kennewell thought his dream may have been achieved but the photo finish showed his horse Conservatorium just failed to beat Hidden Value. On Friday, the trainer takes Conservatorium back to Morphettville for the $80,000 Adelaide Galvanising Christmas Handicap (1400m). The seven-year-old will carry topweight of 60.5kg and will be ridden by Matthew Neilson. “The second topweight is Boristar which has 5.5kg less which is a bit of a difference,” Kennewell said. “But he has earned the weight and I couldn’t be happier going into the race. “His two runs from a spell have both been good and he is coming good at the right time – it is just the weight which could steady him up – but I am sure he will be hard to beat.” Conservatorium has won $786,400 in stakes and the trainer admits it would be nice to go past the $1m mark. “After the Christmas I will probably give him a few weeks off then get ready for the Goodwood in May before heading back to Brisbane with him.” The danger is no doubt Boristar, trained by John MacMillan and to be ridden by Jamie Kah. Boristar hasn’t raced since a gallant photo finish second to Éclair Big Bang over 1600 metres at Flemington over November 8 but at his previous run had been a winner over the track and trip of the Christmas Handicap.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:16:01 +0000
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