News

Guineas a target race for Taxmeifyoucan

16th May 2013

Racing And Sports - Tuesday, 14 May 2013

The race Greg Hickman has coveted more than any other for Taxmeifyoucan has probably arrived sooner than the trainer wanted.

But Hickman is prepared to look past Taxmeifyoucan's frailties to declare the promising galloper among the chances for the richest prize over the two-day Scone Cup carnival.

Hickman paid $16,000 for Taxmeifyoucan at a 2012 yearling sale and he is chasing a $500,000 purse in the Inglis 3YO Guineas at Scone on Saturday.

"It's the race he's been set for all along but I still think the best of him is still 12 months away," Hickman said.

"He's still immature and I keep telling everyone you will see a nice horse one day."

Hickman has devised a strategy to help Taxmeifyoucan peak for the race restricted to horses purchased through various Inglis yearling sales.

"He's been in work a long time but I've worked out at this stage of his career he's probably best when kept a bit fresh," the trainer said.

"We did that for the Gosford Guineas and he ran a better race there."

Glyn Schofield rode Taxmeifyoucan into third behind Ichihara in the Gosford Guineas but he has decided to ride last-start Warwick Farm winner Chewychop at Scone.

But the gelding loses nothing in horsemanship with in-form jockey Blake Shinn booked for the ride.

"Blake rode him in a track gallop the other morning and he was really happy with him," Hickman said.

Taxmeifyoucan won a city race last season but his five starts in 2013 have been a mixture of promise and disappointment for Hickman.

"He's been in and out a bit but looking at his overall record there's plenty of good form around him.

"I'm heading to Scone thinking that if everything turns out right he will be there with them again."

Epsom Handicap winner Fat Al heads the Scone Cup weights with 61kg, 3kg more than stablemate Somepin Anypin.

Hawkesbury Rowley Mile winner has 56kg while Scream Machine has 55kg after winning the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup.

The Chris Waller-trained Say No More, a two-time New Zealand Group One winner over 1600m, is the 59kg topweight for the $200,000 Dark Jewel Classic.

She has 1kg more than the Gai Waterhouse-trained Miss Stellabelle.

Both mares are also among Scone Cup entries.