Talented three-year-old A Samurai Mind steps out for the first time since the Group 1 South Australian Derby when he returns to racing at Murray Bridge on Saturday.
While a host of his rivals have the Listed Lightning Stakes in their sights, co-trainer Dan Clarken said a late season Racing Rewards SA bonus was a target for the horse who hasn’t raced since chasing home Coco Sun at Morphettville in May.
“Obviously Racing Rewards is what we are after,’’ Clarken, who trains alongside Oopy MacGillivray said.
“We’re running out of time but there is a mile race at the end of the month that would be right up his alley.
“We’ll give him this Saturday and then look towards that race,’’ he said.
Clarken said they hadn’t looked too far beyond this month with A Samurai Mind but some of the early season SA Country Cup features could fall on their radar.
“He’s obviously got very good ability,’’ Clarken said.
“We could look at the Balaklava Cup, whether we slip over the border, we’re not really sure.
“What ever it is there will be a good race somewhere for him,’’ he said.
A Samurai Mind was an impressive Murray Bridge winner on debut back in February and Clarken said the horse would have taken plenty out of a recent jump out.
“It wouldn’t surprise to see him chime in strongly late,’’ Clarken said.
“He did enormous in his time off, he’s losing his winter coat now, he’s had a little jump out and was starting to slice through them late.
“I’ll be happy to see him back on Saturday,’’ he said.
Lachlan Neindorf will be back in the saddle aboard A Samurai Mind on Saturday before he takes another trip north on Sunday morning to partner SA mare En Francais in the postponed Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).
The Sunshine Coast Racing Club got through four races last weekend before they were forced to abandon the meeting, the feature set down alongside the Winx Guineas and Caloundra Cup this weekend.
The Glasshouse will also featuring fellow SA mare Grey River who has drawn barrier with Ceejay Graham to ride.
