Exceptional trotting talent Springbank Richard has handled his first trip to Australia with ease - it was just getting over his trip to Auckland first that will delay his campaign a week.
The Oamaru trotter will miss his first Australian assignment, the Holmfield at Moonee Valley, after losingtoo much weight on his road trip to Auckland last week.
"He arrived in Auckland way too light for where I wanted him to be," said trainer Phil Williamson from Melbourne yesterday. "He has bounced back great since and he has come through the flight across to here no problems.
"But the road trip really buggered him. So I will let him miss this Friday's race. Had it been two days later I think we would have been all right but he is too good to take any risks with."
Springbank Richard will now make his Australian debut in a heat of the Victoria Trotting Derby on Sunday week, with the classic itself his sole Australian aim now.
"He is not in the Breeders Crown - we have really put all our eggs in one basket.
"But I am not worried about that. I think he might be better than the 3-year-old trotters over here," said the normally conservative Williamson.
The trainer is no stranger to major Moonee Valley success, having prepared Allegro Agitato to win the Australasian Trotting Grand Prix last season and One Over Kenny to take out of the Australasian Trotting Championships in February.
He rates Springbank Richard as exciting as those two great mares at the same age after the inexperienced youngster overcome an early break to win his section of the $100,000 Harness Jewels on June 2.
* One Dream warmed up for her Australian campaign with an impressive win at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday. The great filly paced her last 400m in a flying 27.1s to down some handy older pacers.
She leaves for Queensland tomorrow and will start in the Queensland Oaks on Saturday week.
* While one champion heads to Queensland another has returned on a sour note.
Dual Interdominion winner Blacks A Fake was narrowly beaten in his comeback race at Albion Park yesterday after his late lunge failed to pick up leader Rollercoaster Road.
