King Of Sting will hardly know himself as he drops way back in distance at Albury on Tuesday.
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After a strong second in the Riverina Cup (3800m) last time out, the Trevor Sutherland trained stayed lines up in the Gazebo & Shade Centre Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600m).
The race was originally set to be run over 2000 metres before problems with Albury’s track saw the distance change.
Sutherland also has Edge Of Madness, who was last in NSW’s longest race on August 12, engaged and doesn’t expect it will suit.
“It’s not ideal but there is not much we can do about it,” Sutherland said.
“Coming back from 3800 the 2000 wouldn’t have been too bad, and they will still run well, but it makes them fairly vunerable but they will be strong through the line.”
The distance cut is due to an unsafe section of the track between the 1900 metres and near the 1600 metres.
The track is a Heavy 10.
King Of Sting hasn’t finished outside the top four in his last four starts, but all have been at least over 2000 metres.
“He’s bred to get the two miles, but both horses in the race both go forward so at least in the mile they will be sitting forward and the track is going to be pretty heavy so it will become a bit of a slug.
“It just might serve them well when it gets real heavy and keep pushing through it pretty good.”
Sutherland also has two chances in the Baxter Concrete SDRA Winter Handicap (1500m), Forbes Cup winner Willy White Socks and Gentleman Max.
“It is a beautiful race for both those horses,” Sutherland said.
“They have got a bit hard to place, especially Socks these days getting up in the weights, but I’m super happy with both horses.
“The track is going to be close to a Heavy 10 going off what people are saying and that will play into Max’s hands.
“There is never much between, usually only half a neck, so it looks an ideal race for both of them and it would be nice if one of them can get the job done.”
Race fields have been limited to only 10 starters.
It is designed to help deal with issues with the track’s surface but Sutherland believes it causes other problems.
“With the drought on people are struggling to feed horses and the money is there and you can’t get in to have any opportunity at it,” he said. “It is a little bit frustrating from the owners point of view with what they are doing, but that is out of my hands.”
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