Canterbury Classic hopeful News Alert continues to please trainer Con Karakatsanis after recovering from a setback at Randwick on New Year's Day.News Alert was scratched at the barriers before the Carrington Stakes for which he was the pre-post favourite.Jockey Jim Cassidy requested the stakeswinner be vetted because he felt short in his action when he cantered to the gates and he was subsequently found to be lame in a foreleg.News Alert is the $5 third favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the Liste
Canterbury Classic hopeful News Alert continues to please trainer Con Karakatsanis after recovering from a setback at Randwick on New Year's Day.
News Alert was scratched at the barriers before the Carrington Stakes for which he was the pre-post favourite.
Jockey Jim Cassidy requested the stakeswinner be vetted because he felt short in his action when he cantered to the gates and he was subsequently found to be lame in a foreleg.
News Alert is the $5 third favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) run under lights on Thursday.
"He was fine two days after Randwick," Karakatsanis said.
"He just struck himself on the heel part of his foot and got a little bit sensitive in that spot."
The Group One placed Bank Robber is the $2.60 favourite in the small but quality field of nine.
"You'd rather this than a big field with a couple of ordinary horses who just ruin it for others by getting in the way," Karakatsanis said.
Hugh Bowman takes over from the suspended Jim Cassidy aboard News Alert who has barrier four.
"On paper, it looks perfect for us this race," Karakatsanis said.
"Bank Robber has drawn three, Pins On Parade and Pinwheel go from eight and nine and there are your three speed horses.
"The two wide runners will be looking to come across and Bank Robber will be holding the fence and hopefully we can lob in the one-one."
News Alert, with Cassidy riding, was a long neck second to Prince Braeman last time out when he blundered at the start in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) at Randwick in December.
Five-year-old News Alert has been in work for a while in a campaign which kicked off with a win in the Listed Lightning Hcp (1100m) at Randwick in October.
"He's pretty close to the end of his prep and if he does race a little bit flat or pulls up ordinary I'll give him a break," Karakatsanis said.
"But if he keeps racing well then there's no reason to put him out and I think he'll go well in this race."
The Peter Snowden-trained Pinwheel is the TAB Sportsbet second favourite at $2.90 and has won his past three starts by a combined margin of more than nine lengths.
The Lonhro gelding comes into the Classic after scoring a commanding 4-1/2 length victory over 1200 metres at Rosehill on January 2.