 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
When Eleven Eleven runs in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, he will be the first horse trained by Greg Hickman to compete in the event. Friday night's Gr.1 sprint 1 will be Eleven Eleven, 6YO, first start racing left-handed in his 30-race career. He has nine wins to his name. Until recently, Eleven Eleven only competed in races in New South Wales and Queensland; she hasn't been seen since June, when she came in dead last in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Hickman has made a tidy sum off of the gelding thanks to his victories at the last three Magic Millions Carnivals. Hickman said Eleven Eleven had a demonstration gallop at Warwick Farm prior to leaving for Melbourne, and the trainer took use of the opportunity to check out the gelding at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning after Eleven Eleven's arrival on Thursday..
“He left a little bit of feed when he first got here but he’s back on it now and we have a happy horse,” Hickman said.
“I was really happy with the way he worked between races at Warwick Farm and he came out and reproduced that on Tuesday morning. I think we needed the time to let him settle in. He’s handled it well and I wanted to give him a run around Moonee Valley. Damian Lane said he was happy with the way he got around the track and I don’t think he should be as long in the market as he is,” Hickman commented further.
Hickman said depending on Eleven Eleven’s performance on Friday night, the gelding may stay in Melbourne for the Gr 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 5 or return to NSW to run in The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle the following week.