FORMER Albury trainer Brett Cavanough will be watching the weather closely before plotting The Monstar’s next move.
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After blitzing the field on a heavy track to take out the Listed $150,000 June Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, Cavanough said he would target more of the same.
“Things didn’t fall into place in Queensland with the weather and tracks so we put the blinker on the other way and went to Sydney,” Cavanough said.
“Anything that is affected he’s good on.
“He might be just exceptional in the heavy.
“There are some little listed races in Queensland and quite a good winter program in Sydney.
“We will just tick him over and, if it’s wet, we will turn up.”
The Monstar ran at Randwick after the plan to run him in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane came unstuck when the meeting was shifted from Eagle Farm to a good track at Doomben.
He eased from $5.50 out to $8.50 but led throughout and never looked like being beaten.
“He didn’t beat much at the weekend to be honest,” Cavanough said.
“He was just too good for them in the wet.
“In a couple of his wins he hasn’t beaten much it would be fair to say, but when you go back through some of his form he’s been third to Sea Lord and Gregers beaten three lengths and fourth behind Headwater and Bullpit.
“Some of his form is just really, really good.”
Jockey Josh Adams was having his first ride at a Sydney Saturday meeting for more than three years on The Monstar after been disqualified by stewards for drug use.
“It has been a long battle,’’ Adams said after the race.
“When I returned, I never felt I would be back at Randwick one day.
“I was just hoping to get some rides and chip away at it.
“I’ve got to thank my family, Mum and Dad, Grant Allard, Brett Cavanough, my girlfriend Jessie, there is a lot of people behind the scenes who were there through thick and thin — this win is for them.’’
Cavanough gave The Monstar some jumping exercise late last week which boosted his confidence going into the June Stakes.
Cavanough, who moved his training base to Scone from Albury earlier this year, has 46 horses in work.
“It’s been good,” he said.
“We have had seven or eight winners and 12 seconds.
“We are chipping away.
“They know we are here now.”