Jason McLachlan has the quiet air of a trainer confident in his horse.And why shouldn't he?McLachlan will start Phelan Ready in Saturday's $1 million Golden Rose and while most of the pre-race interest has centred on new kids on the block Denman and Trusting, the fact remains Phelan Ready is the only proven Group One horse in the race.Put it down to the perceived curse on Golden Slipper winners, but Phelan Ready has flown under the radar to a large degree in the lead-up to the richest race of th
Jason McLachlan has the quiet air of a trainer confident in his horse.
And why shouldn't he?
McLachlan will start Phelan Ready in Saturday's $1 million Golden Rose and while most of the pre-race interest has centred on new kids on the block Denman and Trusting, the fact remains Phelan Ready is the only proven Group One horse in the race.
Put it down to the perceived curse on Golden Slipper winners, but Phelan Ready has flown under the radar to a large degree in the lead-up to the richest race of the Sydney spring carnival.
Not that McLachlan minds.
"He's always going to be the forgotten horse, it doesn't worry me one bit," McLachlan said.
Phelan Ready has had one run from a spell, finishing third to dead-heaters Mentality and Kroner in the weight-for-age Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill two weeks ago.
On the same afternoon Denman gave weight to his three-year-old rivals in the Run To The Rose but still proved too good for them, posting an impressive win.
Then last Saturday Trusting, who was an unlucky seventh to Denman at Rosehill, franked the form when he downed the older horses in the Warwick Stakes.
The emerging stars head early TAB Sportsbet markets with Denman the $2.60 favourite following his good draw in four while Trusting, who has barrier 11, is at $4.80 with Phelan Ready next at $6.50.
Like punters, McLachlan has been impressed by Denman and Trusting.
But his faith in Phelan Ready hasn't wavered.
"They're both very good horses," McLachlan said.
"It's a Group One race so it's not going to be easy is it.
"(But) my horse has been there before.
"He's done terrific and I'm very happy with him.
"I think he's screaming out for the 1400 metres."
Phelan Ready will tackle the Golden Rose at his second run from a break, just as he did the Golden Slipper.
And like he did in the Slipper when he had to overcome the outside gate, he has drawn wide in barrier 12 on Saturday.
Slipper-winning jockey Brad Rawiller will reunite with Phelan Ready after being unable to ride him in the Premiere because of his light weight and McLachlan is happy to leave tactics to the Victorian hoop.
"I'll leave it up to Brad, it's for him to worry about now," McLachlan said.
"It's a Group One for big dollars, they'll be going quick."
If Phelan Ready can win on Saturday he will become just the second galloper to claim the Golden Slipper-Golden Rose double.
Forensics won the Slipper in 2007 and the Golden Rose the following autumn after it was postponed due to the equine influenza outbreak.