OUR Uncle Sam is out to bolster his chances of a Group 1 Chariots Of Fire start when he lines up in this Saturday night’s Cordina Chicken Farms Pace (1,609 metres) at Menangle.
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The stable star of Bathurst trainer Chris Frisby heads to Sydney with an unbeaten record this preparation, which includes a thumping 30 metre victory in track record time at Parkes last start.
Our Uncle Sam goes out from gate four for the upcoming Menangle run with Frisby’s son, Anthony, once again in the driver’s seat.
The flying Frisby gelding looks certain to start favourite for the race.
If their runner can impress then the father-son duo will then look towards either the Hondo Grattan Stakes (January 20) or Paleface Adios Stakes (February 3) in the hopes of booking a place in the Group 1 $200,000 Chariots of Fire (February 10).
“This race will be just so we can get a look at him and see if we can get a run in one of those next races,” Chris Frisby said.
“After he raced at Parkes this will also give him a feel for the bigger track again.”
There’s a host of Bathurst trained or driven chances hoping to take down Our Uncle Sam.
Mark Jones’ Whittaker, driven by Ashlee Grives, is one of the leading candidates given he’s yet to miss a place since arriving in Australia.
Steve Turnbull’s Oh I Am The One goes into the race also on a three race win streak while Josh Turnbull’s Lockton Luck – the horse who finished second to Our Uncle Sam at Parkes – has some work to do from the outside draw.
“That Whittaker is a very quick horse. I’ve seen him put in some good races,” Frisby said.
“Our horse is very versatile and that’s what’s made him so great.
“Everything’s going really well for him. His win at Parkes was dead set unbelievable. Hopefully he can keep that going.”
Meanwhile the Frisbys are chasing Group 3 glory with Captain Cosmonaut in the Simpson Memorial (1,609m).
Captain Cosmonaut looks set to start as a big outsider in the race, and his start from gate 10 won’t help his cause in the $30,000 feature.
The Sportswriter colt won his last start at Bathurst but he makes a big step up in class this Saturday.
He’ll be up against the likes of former Group 2 Sapling Stakes winner Divine State and promising Kiwi rig Life Lavros.
“For sure, he’ll be an outsider for this one,” Chris Frisby said.
“He’ll need a lot of luck in this. With the draw there’s not much you can do about that.
“He’ll go back from there and hopefully they go really hard out in front.”
Our Uncle Sam races from 7.21pm while the feature Simpson Memorial will take place at 8.50pm.