Troy Corstens believes promising filly Modern Wonder can make her presence felt on debut in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Flemington trainer has been super impressed by the jumpouts of the Snitzel juvenile and isn’t daunted about taking on same talented types in Adelaide.
“She’s a lovely filly, she’s pretty much bomb proof – does everything right,” said Corstens, who trains with his father Leon.
“She’s had two trials this time in – one (she) won quite nicely and then just held her up in the field with the second one and she ran second in that but with her head on her chest.
“As long as she handles the trip over to Adelaide, I think she’ll be very competitive.”
Modern Wander is an $8.50 chance, just behind Moshki ($4.20), If Not Now When ($4.40), Serenely Discreet ($6) and Moqla ($7.50).
“We’re under no illusions, we know how hard the race is,” Corstens said.
“But I think she’s a very classy filly. Even if she doesn’t do it on Saturday, I think there are good things ahead for her.”
Corstens also confirmed Awesome Rock, who was first past the post in the Australia Cup but lost on protest, is in the spelling paddock after finishing down the track in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“We were very unlucky with Awesome Rock, he had a really great preparation – won a Group 1 and didn’t quite get to keep it,” he said.
“Just went to Sydney and didn’t handle the track at all.
“We’ve turned him out … we’ll set him for the races in the spring and you’d think a race like the Mackinnon would be right up his alley.”
The stable is also keenly awaiting the return of highly-talented three-year-old Mr Individual, who is almost ready to hit the track after having bone chips removed from his knee.
“We’re trying to get him up to Brisbane so he’ll trial again tomorrow week and then we’ll make a decision,” Corstens said.
“He’ll kick off on the seventh of May – either in the 1200m race for 3YOs in Adelaide or there’s a restricted 3YO race on the same day up in Sydney.
“We’re trying to get him to the Stradbroke, so he’ll need to get up to Brisbane straight after that and win one of the lead-up races to get qualified but that’s where we’re trying to head with him at the moment.”
– racing.com
