Evergreen galloper Midnight Runner will be looking to end his preparation on a high when he heads to Wingatui on Thursday to contest the Positive Signs + Print (1200m).
He has placed in four of his last five starts and trainer John Phillips is hoping the nine-year-old can get his nose first past the post this week.
The Winton trainer is happy with the son of Jimmy Choux ahead of the meeting, but his biggest concern is his 61kg impost, which will come down to 59kg with the assistance of apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas’ two-kilogram claim.
“He has been going really well and he is as honest as the day is long,” Phillips said.
“The old fella has come through his run well. He is a pretty seasoned campaigner, and he is used to carrying big weights now.
“The other day he raced three-wide early with that big weight on his back. The winner carried 54kg and the second horse carried 51kg, and he was carrying around 59kg, even with the two-kilo claim, which does make it hard.
“He is just below those top sprinters now, so he is only running around in industry days now where he is getting the big weights.”
Phillips is looking forward to having Nicholas back aboard, with the northern hoop developing a good association with Midnight Runner.
“She has ridden him a couple of times for a couple of placings,” he said. “She is going well – she has got a nice seat on her and gets down nice and low on the animals, and they run for her. It is good to have her on.”
Retirement is looming for Midnight Runner, but Phillips said he will likely bring him back for one final preparation next year before he calls time on his racing career.
“He will possibly do this season and then that will be it, he will be retired,” Phillips said.
Midnight Runner has been a great stalwart for Phillips’ barn and he said it will be a sad day when he leaves his barn for the final time.
“He came down from Peter Williams’ and they (former owners) actually gifted him to us,” he said.
“He has won about $250,000 in stakes and had 17 seconds and nine wins for us. His record is great.”
Phillips will also be represented by two other runners on Thursday, including Tiger Fire in the Property Brokers Dunedin (2200m) and Darcee Que in the Grand Casino (1600m).
“Tiger Fire is stepping up to a distance where he will be more competitive. He has had two lead-up races over 1400m and a mile, but he is better over more ground,” Phillips said.
“Darcee Que hasn’t gone as well as I would have thought. When I first got her, I thought she could be quite a useful mare, but getting on a firmer track over a mile will suit. She is a beautifully bred mare and is in great order.”