Ascot trainer, Trevor Andrews, respects the opposition in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday, but he holds genuine excitement for Get Over It.
Andrews is too experienced to ever get ahead of himself and place unnecessary burden on his horses, but he believes there is something special about his gelding.
Get Over It, a son of Saxon, gave racegoers a glimpse of what he is capable of when he made two impressive cameo appearances at Belmont Park during the winter.
Get Over It did it well enough on debut in August, but his follow up performance 10 days later was even more striking when he sprinted home from last to score easily.
Andrews had seen enough and immediately spelled the three-year-old, giving him a freshen-up before plotting a path towards the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) in November.
That quest begins in earnest on Saturday when Get Over It meets a hot line up in the Belgravia Stakes, up against the likes of The Celt, Saul’s Special and Caipirinha.
Get Over It rounded out preparations for his return with a 1000m trial win. He has drawn well in barrier four for WA Hall of Fame jockey, Paul Harvey.
“He is quite exciting and has a lot of raw talent this horse,” Andrews said on Tabradio’s The Sports Daily.
“His trial was really good and normally he gets back and runs on, but he was held up on the fence and quickened up late.
“He has trained on well since and I think he will be getting home pretty solid.
“It’s a big step up in class, but I have got a feeling he will run super.
“Something tells me there is something special about him.
“I think he is a bit of a freak.”
Get Over It and The River give Andrews a two-pronged attack in the Belgravia Stakes, a race that he has won three times previously with King Saul (2011), Manjar (2005) and The Right Money (2002).
The River showed his potential last season when he won top juvenile races, the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) and Perth Stakes (1100m).
The Magnus gelding raced first-up in last week’s Bunbury 3YO Classic (1000m) and performed creditably, running a sound fifth with 59kg
“With 59kg it just takes the edge of his sprint a little bit,” Andrews said.
“He has got the same weight again and pays the penalty after winning the two-year-old races.
“He is on track towards the Guineas and if we get there we meet them on level weights.
“We are not taking our eye of the main game.”
The River, rated an $11 hope with the TAB, will jump from barrier seven. Shaun McGruddy maintains the ride.
Get Over It ($3.90), The Celt ($3.90) and Caipirinha ($3.60) are in a fight for favouritism.
Julio Santarelli
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