Defending champion Watts Up Partytime, now back with his original trainer Rickie Alchin, bookended his trip back to Victoria by winning the stage in a 1:55.4 second mile.
But French import Kristal Josselyn will need to impress Luke McCarthy at a second Menangle trial next week to have a shot at the $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14.
McCarthy was pleased with the six-year-old’s first Australian public appearance as he came second to Watts Up Partytime.
“But it showed he wasn’t as fit as I thought, so he’ll need another trial before racing,” he said. “Next week he’ll be back around (in Menangle).”
Kristal Josselyn, who won six races and over $520,000 in France, showed scintillating speed to lead yesterday’s 1609m class with Watts Up Partytime on his back.
In the final phase, Watts Up Partytime came off his back and won by 1.5 meters.
The closing splits were 56.5 and 27.7 seconds.
It means Kristal Josselyn will not play the $75,000 Group 1 Kilmore Trotters’ Cup on Saturday week and will have to go first to the Great Southern Star a week later.
It will all depend on next Wednesday’s trial.
But Alchin said Watts Up Partytime was right.
“I was happy with the process,” he said. “I will enter him for a race here (Menangle) next week and for the big race at Kilmore and make a decision closer to that race as to which way to go,” he said. “If he goes to Kilmore, I’ll take Lux Aeterna down with me.”
Watts Up Partytime has changed trainers twice since winning last year’s Great Southern Star for Andy and Kate Gath.
He has not raced since finishing ninth in a Melton race on October 18 for trainers Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar.
If Kristal Josselyn McCarthy doesn’t show he’s ready next week, “Plan B” could include a longer wait for the $60,000 Group 1 Grand Prix at Melton on February 28 and the $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on March 14.
Gold Coast owner Norm Jenkin, who has won three Great Southern Stars (Tornado Valley in 2020 and ’21 and Majestuoso in 2022), said the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot in Cambridge on April 10 was another logical target.
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing Victoria
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