|
Trainer Lee Curtis has slammed the Sydney autumn carnival program for sprinters and the lack of weight-for-age events.
Curtis has two talented three-year-olds, Rightson and Seidnazar, in training for the big races but said the path to the Group One events was rocky.
And he is also perplexed that the two Group One sprints in Sydney are within days of each other and in the wrong order with the TJ Smith (1200m) on April 15 and The Galaxy (1100m) four days later.
"In Melbourne in the spring there is a weight-for-age sprint every week," Curtis said.
"But in Sydney there is no natural progression.
"The Galaxy should be on first and then the horses could step up to 1200 metres a week later but this way they can't do both.
"Rightson will have to go to a class six at Gosford and then a welter and Seidnazar will have to do something similar.
"There isn't a weight-for-age race until the Challenge Stakes (April 1).
"It's sickening. If you have a promising three-year-old you may as well sell it to Hong Kong."
There would be little chance of Curtis selling Rightson who is a full brother to his star sprinter Mistegic, winner of the 2002 Galaxy.
Mistegic also competed in the TJ Smith that year when fourth to Phoenix Park with the race held two weeks after the Galaxy.
Rightson has had five starts for four wins over 1000 metres and a third on debut at Muswellbrook last May.
On a dead track at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day, he scored his most impressive win yet, streeting his rivals by almost seven lengths.
Seidnazar was formerly trained by Peter Moody in Melbourne but was sent to Curtis for a change of scenery to help him recapture winning form.
The colt won his second start in October 2004 but has failed to register another although he has performed with distinction at the highest level.
© 2010 Published 22/01/06
|
