IMPORTED jumper Dormello Mo is chasing three wins from four starts over the live hedges at Casterton when the eight-year-old runs in a $40,000 open steeplechase on Sunday.
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Dormello Mo’s trainer Simon Ryan has opted for the services of the three-kilogram claiming jumps jockey Darryl Horner in the 3800-metre race.
With Horner’s claim, the French-bred jumper will carry 71kgs in the feature race on the eight-race Casterton Cup program.
“I’m comfortable with the 71kgs,” Ryan said.
“The three kilo claim for Darryl is a real advantage. Dormello Mo just loves the live hedges at Casterton.
“I thought he was really unlucky at his last run in the Brierly Steeplechase. He ran sixth but with a bit of luck he would have finished a lot closer.
“We popped him over a couple of fences at Warrnambool on Tuesday, just to get his mind back on the job.”
Seasoned jumpers Valediction, Zataglio, Mannertone, Undergroundfighter and Key Of The Forest will be joined by first-season jumpers Surging Wave and Canterbury King in what looms an enthralling steeplechase.
Mount Gambier-trained Woolsthorpe Store is chasing back-to-back Casterton Cup wins for trainer Michael O’Leary in the $30,000 race over 2000 metres.
Woolsthorpe Store ran second at his last start behind the talented Tradesman at the Warrnambool carnival on May 1.
Meanwhile, Jarrod McLean is well recognised as a key player in the powerful Darren Weir racing empire as his Warrnambool foreman but he also has his own training licence and saddles up Romanesque in the $200,000 Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Romanesque ran third in the Warrnambool Cup at his last outing on the back-up after a second placing on the opening day of the three-day carnival. McLean believes the stallion should run well in the 3200-metre race.
“It’s Romanesque’s first try at 3200 metres,” he said.
“I suppose we’re a bit of a query of running the distance but my bloke has run second over 3000 metres in the United Kingdom. He’s fit and healthy and seems in great shape.”
McLean also has Tried And Tired running in a $120,000 race down the famous Flemington straight.
Weir’s Warrnambool satellite stable will be represented by seven runners at Flemington while seven run at Morphettville and two head up for the rich Doomben races.
Warrnambool’s Aaron Purcell saddles up Swacadelic in the Ramsden Stakes. Grand Annual steeplechase-winning trainer Symon Wilde accepted in Doomben with Dodging Bullets and La Fleurette.
Matthew Williams runs Clairvaux in a $100,000 event.
