Trainer David Pfieffer is optimistic about Ice Kool's performance at Randwick on Saturday after a recent flat run where the four-year-old Zoustar gelding finished fourth in an 1100m handicap race. Pfieffer has given Ice Kool a fresh-up trial and believes he will perform better, aiming for easier races before potentially stepping up to more challenging stakes events like the $1 million group 2 Shorts or the Schillaci Stakes later in the spring carnival.
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David Pfieffer believes his horse Ice Kool is ready to bounce back after a disappointing fourth-place finish at Randwick on July 25. Ice Kool had been undefeated in Sydney until this recent performance, and Pfieffer gave the horse a six-week break before re-entering him with a strong trial win. The trainer plans to run Ice Kool as a $3.80 favorite in an upcoming race at Randwick on Saturday, aiming to build up to stakes races during Melbourne's spring carnival. Pfieffer is considering entering Ice Kool in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) on October 10 at Caulfield but acknowledges that challenging top sprinters heading for the Everest might be premature unless Ice Kool shows significant improvement.
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David Pfieffer believes a refreshed Ice Kool is primed to bounce back at Randwick on Saturday from a flat performance as the Warwick Farm trainer looks to step the speedster up to stakes grade in Melbourne.
asserted
trainer → believe → Melbourne
Ice Kool’s unbeaten run in Sydney came to an end last start when fourth, two and three-quarter lengths off Hawker Hall, in an 1100m benchmark 88 handicap on July 25 at Randwick.
asserted
run → come → Randwick
The four-year-old Zoustar gelding faded after racing forward, three wide without cover, a spot he was able to overcome at his previous start over 1000m in 78 grade.
asserted
he → fade → grade
Pfieffer gave Ice Kool a six-week freshen up before he returned with a sharp, front-running trial win at home on September 3, and he was confident the talent will fire again.
asserted
talent → give → September
He nominated him for the $1 million group 2 Shorts over 1200m but opted for the easier task in the last, a benchmark 88 handicap over 1100m.
“He raced a fraction flat,” Pfieffer said of the most recent run.
asserted
Pfieffer → nominate → run
“I know he was three deep, but he’d get away with that in the past, although I know you can’t keep doing that as you go up in grade.
asserted
you → know → grade
“I think he appreciates being kept that bit fresh and obviously being up on pace, but just these little things he does wrong are signs of immaturity and a lot of it comes down to him being a boy in a man’s game.
asserted
him → think → game
“For now, we’ll just take these baby steps while he’s developing his trade.
asserted
he → take → trade
Even just stepping slow from the gates, it’s just little things he’s doing wrong that aren’t helping him.
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that → step → him
“But I thought his trial was super.
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trial → think → ?
He stepped away from the gates nice, put himself on pace, travelled along at a comfortable tempo without overdoing it.
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He → step → it
He ran good sectionals without asking a lot of him.
asserted
He → run → him
“And his coat, I think come Saturday, it will be the best he’s looked his whole career, and like the old saying goes, when they look good, they race well.”
asserted
they → think → ?
Pfieffer has long planned to test Ice Kool, a $3.80 chance on Saturday, on the straight courses in Melbourne over the spring carnival and he was eyeing the group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) on October 10 at Caulfield.
“Getting some experience down at Melbourne will do him good and, let’s be honest, he doesn’t need to be taking on these sprinters heading to the Everest, unless he comes out and blows them away on Saturday,” he said.
asserted
he → plan → Saturday
“Then you might rethink and go, do we throw him in the Premiere?
uncertain
we → rethink → Premiere
But at this stage, you are taking the safer play.”
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you → take → play
At Newcastle on Friday, Pfieffer has Oh Diamond Lil ($4) from gate one in the group 3 Tibbie Stakes.
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Pfieffer → have → Stakes
“She was three deep for a bit then she had to push across and get to the front,” he said.
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he → have → front
“I just don’t think she got that mid-race breather, and being a six-year-old mare now, she’s probably holding a bit more condition and the fitter horses had her covered.
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her → think → condition
“She wasn’t beaten far, her sectionals were still strong.
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sectionals → beat → ?
They went five lengths above average mid-race, so that’s going to test a lot of horses out first-up.
asserted
that → go → horses
She’s come out of it well.”
asserted
She → come → it
The Aporia
