Trainer Jeff Caught has put a "not for sale" sign up on the exciting Falino whose value will soar if he wins the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on Boxing Day.Caught, a former trotting trainer-driver from north Queensland, was offered $350,000 to sell the three-year-old to Hong Kong following his maiden win at Doomben in September.He owns a half-share in Falino who was sold for $14,000 at an Inglis tried horse sale in Sydney in July after he was formerly in the care of Chris Waller.Falino
Trainer Jeff Caught has put a "not for sale" sign up on the exciting Falino whose value will soar if he wins the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on Boxing Day.
Caught, a former trotting trainer-driver from north Queensland, was offered $350,000 to sell the three-year-old to Hong Kong following his maiden win at Doomben in September.
He owns a half-share in Falino who was sold for $14,000 at an Inglis tried horse sale in Sydney in July after he was formerly in the care of Chris Waller.
Falino has won three of his four starts including a record-breaking victory in a 1200-metre restricted race at Rosehill earlier this month.
"I've been told by a vet that's there's going to be an approach to buy him but he's not for sale," Caught said.
"I haven't had an approach to buy him since the first one came but he's got a flat wither anyway."
Caught has been delighted with Falino since his return from Sydney.
"The Sydney win was the biggest win of my career, prizemoney-wise," he said.
"It was a great win and he broke the class record after easily breaking the class record at Caloundra in his previous start.
"The trip away to Sydney hasn't knocked him about and he's done well since he returned home.
"It was something different for him to go away and he's more switched on now."
Caught has booked Shane Scriven to ride Falino after Chris Munce was engaged for the Gai Waterhouse-trained Brightexpectations.
"Shane has never ridden him before but he's not a hard horse to ride," Caught said.
"Shane's very experienced and I couldn't ask for a better jockey."
Caught is unconcerned with the state of the track which is in the heavy range although the son of Fusaichi Pegasus has never been on a track worse than slow.
"He's had two starts on a slow track for a win and a third but it was close to heavy the day he was placed," he said.
"They downgraded the track to heavy shortly after he ran third that day at Eagle Farm."
Caught, who is a draftsman by trade, has no doubt Falino is up to the task of winning a Group race.
"He's been running good times every race so far which is a good indication," he said.
"I ran his stablemate Pleasure Time in the (Group Three) Tatt's Cup during the winter but he's the first horse I've had who is a really serious chance to win a Group race."
Long term, Caught is eyeing the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June but won't hesitate to switch him to the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on the same day if he feels Falino can measure up.
"I really feel he's a Guineas horse but three-year-old's have a great record in the Stradbroke," he said.