3 minute read
Harbour Views will be lining up for the John F Feehan Stakes at The Valley.
If it was not for one run sticking in his mind trainer Matthew Williams would be confident of a top three finish for Harbour Views in the $250,000 Group 2 John F Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Williams has planned a first-up tilt at Saturday's race which provides the winner a ballot exemption into the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 24.
Harbour Views is a lightly-raced six-year-old and will be lining up for his 11th start on Saturday, having passed the post first on six occasions.
Successful at his first five starts, Williams was content to let the French-bred six-year-old race through his grades before the gelding suffered his first defeat at Flemington on Oaks day last year.
Harbour Views missed the Ballarat Cup last November with inflammation in a fetlock and made a four-start cameo appearance during the winter, winning at The Valley two starts ago before finishing fourth at Caulfield on June 27.
Williams had the gelding thoroughly vetted following that run and had a lung-wash performed on Harbour Views that revealed some allergies, but not enough to concern the trainer.
"If he had not of gone to Caulfield and you went on his Valley win, you would be going there, tail up, confident of him running top three on Saturday," Williams said.
"I've got no genuine excuse for the Caulfield run apart from the fact it was an extremely slowly run race with a fast change up furlong.
"But that run is just in the back on my mind and I'm scratching my head a little bit."
Williams took Harbour Views to Casterton on Monday for a gallop on the course-proper where the gelding was pitted against multiple Group 1 winner Gailo Chop.
The trainer described the work as terrific.
"They worked over 1400 metres and worked up the last 600, Gailo Chop was there for a nice strong gallop for the Makybe Diva (at Flemington) next week, but Harbour Views just played with him," Williams said.
"He sat off him a couple of lengths and smoked up from the top of the straight."
Williams will wait and see the outcome of Saturday's race to see where Harbour Views heads.
Victory guarantees a Cox Plate start and Williams will then need to determine whether to run in the $750,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 26 or the $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington the following week.
"It would be a nice problem to have," Williams said.
The Feehan Stakes has attracted 17 entries and includes Dalasan, Humidor, Kings Will Dream, Mahamedeis, Master Of Wine, Surprise Baby and Vanna Girl.