Talented sprinter-miler Taxmeifyoucan will be on trial for a trip to Brisbane when he resumes on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival at Randwick.
A brilliant winner of the Scone Guineas last year, the Greg Hickman-trained gelding will line up in the BMW Handicap (1200m) on Saturday with his trainer opting not to claim despite his 61kg handicap.
Senior hoop Jason Collett will ride Taxmeifyoucan whose first-up statistics include a solid fourth to Riva De Lago in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes last spring.
“He has a big weight but it’s probably better for him than having less weight and harder opposition,” Hickman said.
“If he goes really well on Saturday I will probably take him to Brisbane. If not, we’ll just poke around.
“But he trialled good the other day.”
Taxmeifyoucan has not raced since he finished down the track in the Villiers Stakes won by Ninth Legion.
He started favourite in that race and Hickman put the horse’s below-par performance down to him having come to the end of his preparation.
With Barbed an early scratching, Taxmeifyoucan will have 11 rivals on Saturday headed by $5 favourite Nothing Like Luca who makes his debut for new trainer Matthew Smith after an unbeaten three-start campaign for John O’Shea last season.
Taxmeifyoucan is on the fourth line of betting at $8.50 in a race rated the most open on Saturday’s program with Gold Epona and Boss Lane at $15 the widest in the market.
– AAP