They’ll be watching a bit of ‘Boppin’ at Newcastle

THE presence of Sydney trainers’ hit-and-run trips to Newcastle continues tonight with a number of leading stables heading to the International Paceway.

One of the most interesting runners heading north is the Shane Sanderson-trained Whereyabinboppin, potentially one of the best horses currently racing in the metropolitan region.

But the former Riverina pacer has tended to mix his form, despite having won 12 of his 20 race starts.

The now five-year-old was sent out as the $2.30 favourite in the Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst on Boxing night and after leading was beaten 14 metres into eighth placing.

“I wasn’t that disappointed with his run at Bathurst,” said Sanderson.

“He came out of the gate hard and then over-raced when Amanda [Turnbull] moved up to his girth with Shoobee Doo.

“He then ran the first half of the last mile in 56.8 seconds, which was always going to tell on him over the 2795-metre trip, especially when he had horses of the calibre of Our Uncle Sam to contend with.”

Before heading to Bathurst, Whereyabinboppin could not have been more impressive in winning the Harold Park Cup at Tabcorp Park Menangle, rating 1.51.7 in defeating a class field that included Cash N Flow, which had only been beaten once in his previous 13 starts.

“I think the hard racing in the top grade and the fact that he likes to really roll in his races is not ideal for him and the long journey at Bathurst was something he is not accustomed to,” said Sanderson.

“He appears to have recovered well from the run and I am happy with the way is has worked since.

“I am taking him to Newcastle tonight in order to sort out a few things with him and give him a softer run than his more recent races and I am not that concerned over him drawing barrier nine.

“Cam [Hart] knows the horse well and Newcastle is a nice roomy track.”

There is no doubt that the field Whereyabinboppin is meeting tonight is vastly inferior to those he has met in recent starts and barring bad luck, the high-speed gelding should be able to get back into the winners’ circle.

On paper, it appears that the KerryAnn Morris stable will have another successful night in Newcastle with some favoured runners.

• MICHAEL DUMESNY