Cranbourne trainer Shawn Mathrick has never had a runner at Murrumbidgee Turf Cup but is plotting his path towards taking out Wagga’s biggest race on Friday.
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Mathrick has accepted with last start Caulfield winner Adirondack for the Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
However, he is not 100 per cent over the line yet.
“I’ll accept and see how he draws and how deep the race is,” Mathrick said.
“I’ve got him in the Warrnambool Cup as well but my preferred option is to come there (to Wagga).”
Mathrick believes he will be well suited to the Wagga circuit as he eyes a trip to Queensland for the group one Doomben Cup.
“I thought that would be a nice race for him,” he said.
“It is a beautiful big track and is another positive.”
The condition of the track is another thing playing in Wagga’s favour.
Despite receiving 11 millimetres of rain across Friday and Sunday, the track was upgraded to a good four on Monday.
Mathrick believes the five-year-old is much better way from the soft or heavy conditions expected at Warrnambool.
Since being purchased out from Goldophin, Adirondack has taken his taken his racing to his next level.
He has won four of eights starts for Mathrick including five-length win in a $250,000 race at Caulfield last month.
“They way he dominated that last 300 metres shocked me a bit,” Mathrick said.
The Cranbourne trainer believes he is better suited to a different lifestyle.
“He’s out on a farm environment, is out in big paddocks of a day and stays out if the weather is fine,” Mathrick said.
“If the weather is cool or rainy he comes into boxes at night but I think he is just thriving with that.
“I still feed old school and do all my feeds and maybe that can be a difference
“He seems to have found his niche.”
Mathrick also has Our Nkwazi nominated for the Wagga Town Plate on Thursday.
He is fifth in the order of entry with 57.5 kilograms, behind top weight Decision Time who has been given 61kg.