Werd Speaks For Himself

| Tue 2 August, 2011

Story by Jay Rooney from The West

Classy sprinter Werd will make a cameo appearance at Belmont Park ahead of another tilt at the Burs- wood Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in November.

The speed machine, an impressive Belmont trial winner yesterday, is set to trial again in a fortnight and start in a 1000m handicap on August 27.

He is likely to receive 61kg and trainer Chris Gangemi will book an apprentice for Werd, who will be given a let-up immediately after the race.

The seven-year-old led from start to finish to beat For Your Eyes Only by 1¼ lengths in yesterday's 1000m heat.

"He's only about 80 per cent so it was a good effort," Gangemi said.

"I don't want to keep him up the whole time so he'll have a short let-up after the race and then come back for the big sprints."

Werd blossomed at the Festival of Perth Racing last summer, breaking the track record in his victory in The Cannonball (1000m) at Pinjarra before gallant performances in the top sprints.

The $345,350 stake earner ran a close-up fourth to Ma Ma Machine in the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m), fifth to Hadabeclorka in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and second to Canali in the Summer Scorcher (1000m).

The Winterbottom Stakes, now a Group 1, is on November 19 and is expected to attract a glamour field, including unbeaten mare Black Caviar.

For Your Eyes Only, who finished last behind All Friared Up in the Beaufine Stakes (1000m) last Saturday week, did not show her customary brilliance in yesterday's trial. But managing part-owner Harvey Crossman said yesterday the gun mare would still be nominated for Saturday's $80,000 Belmont Newmarket (1200m).

"Paul (trainer Paul Jordan) will monitor her during the week and probably make a decision on Wednesday," Crossman said.

Trainer Jim Taylor is likely to enter Idyllic Prince, who ran second to Elliotto at yesterday's trials, but he could be saved for the $80,000 Goodwood Sprint (1300m) on August 20.

Stablemates Shock Value and Bike Aaromba will tackle the Newmarket but Taylor has decided to retire Vain Raider.

"He just didn't come up this time in," Taylor said of Vain Raider.

"I was happy with Idyllic Prince's trial, but we'll wait and see how he pulls up and what barrier he draws."