Teriffic shape…Whitefriars. Picture: Cameron Richardson
Source: The Daily Telegraph

WHITEFRIARS is set to begin his charge towards the feature Group One sprints in Melbourne in the Canterbury Classic (1100m) on Friday night with comeback jockey Jim Cassidy in the saddle.

Trainer Rick Worthington has his Salinger Stakes winner aimed at the Oakleigh Plate-Newmarket Handicap double and while conceding his star galloper is far from peak fitness, he believes Whitefriars has enough class to win the Listed sprint.

“We are aiming to have a happy and sound horse rather than one that is screwed down and ready to rumble,” he said.

“His trial at Randwick [December 30] was the first time he has had a serious gallop since Perth so he was obviously quite big in condition but he has made good improvement.

“The negatives are the Canterbury track, he is a big horse and if we draw bad it might make things difficult and fitness-wise he is not at his top.

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“The positives are that he has come back in terrific shape and has enough class to win.

“His work suggests he is over his little issues but you still like to see them come out and do it on race day so hopefully he will do the job on Friday night and then we can look forward to Melbourne.”

David Payne is preparing to run Cardinal Virtue (Josh Adams) and Winter King (Glyn Schofield) in the Canterbury Classic while Jest Crewsin’ is also a likely starter.

Tamworth trainer Sue Grills will nominate Border Rebel but he is not a certain starter. “I want to run him but I’ll just wait and see what weight he gets,” she said. “If he doesn’t run at Canterbury I’ll go to the Expressway Stakes and after that I will decide whether he is going well enough to head to Melbourne.”