Poor Judge On Trial For Trip Away
- Wednesday, 24 August 2011 05:15
Toowoomba trainer Wayne Nugent will weigh up a Sydney or Melbourne campaign with Group winner Poor Judge if the six-year-old rediscovers his best form in his comeback at Doomben on Saturday.
Nugent has only trained Poor Judge for one start after the gelding was transferred from fellow Toowoomba trainer Norm Hilton.
Under Hilton, Poor Judge won last year's Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba and later earned a Melbourne trip, finishing third in the Group One Toorak Handicap at Caulfield before claiming the Group Three Chatham Stakes on a heavy track at Flemington in October.
The son of Royal Academy lost form in his next campaign finishing last in three successive starts including his last appearance in the Weetwood Handicap in March.
"I only had him for 10 days before the Weetwood. He didn't fire and raced like a tired horse," Nugent said.
"I've noticed a big difference with him this time. His work has been outstanding and he seems to be more content and a lot happier.
"I'm not sure why he lost form under Norm. He's like most horses of his age and has some wear and tear issues but I can't put my finger on it.
"Maybe it was because he started off on two heavy tracks last time before he had a hard campaign in Melbourne."
Nugent, 44, a former amateur jockey, is a farrier by trade and juggles work commitments with preparing a team of six.
Poor Judge has won more than $520,000 in prize money from 13 wins in a 30-start career.
Nugent is confident Poor Judge will acquit himself well in his return in the Channel Seven Brisbane Handicap (1200m) which will decide whether he goes to Sydney or Melbourne.
"He's been in work for three months and won a barrier trial nicely earlier this month," he said.
"I was really pleased with the trial win and he raced like his old self.
Nugent has booked apprentice Brad Wallace whose three-kilogram claim will offset the gelding's 60kg handicap.
But the weather could play a major hand before Nugent confirms a start for Poor Judge
"I don't want to start him off on a heavy track again like he did last campaign so the track condition will decide if I run him or not," Nugent said.
"If he does run and goes as well as I expect I've got three options with him.
"The first is the Epsom and that's the likely path for him.
"If not he can stay here for a while yet or he could go straight to Melbourne for the Toorak again and the Waterford Crystal Mile."
Nugent will use the Group Three Tramway handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 3 or the Group Three Bill Ritchie (1400m) at the same track a fortnight later as Poor Judge's Epsom lead-up.
The Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) will be run at Randwick on October 1.
