HORSE RACING
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The presence of two-year-old staying races at the back end of the season is again under threat, with stables shying away from testing the babies over longer journeys.
Just six weeks after only six horses faced the starter in the Juvenile Stayer (1800m) at Rosehill, only a couple of two-year-olds have been entered for the Significant Stakes (1900m) at the same venue on Saturday.
The race has 13 three-year-olds among those to have been nominated.
There was once a consolidated push to ensure programming options for two-year-olds which would be better suited over ground.
But the numbers haven't reflected it and Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker, who has three-year-old La Grande Fille entered for the Significant Stakes, said he was reluctant to also nominate promising baby Carver.
"Two-year-olds taking on the older horses is probably a bit hard," Parker said.
La Grande Fille was stout in defeat at Kembla last start and Parker will toss up whether to start the filly in town or opt for an easier Class 2 Handicap (2000m) at Kembla.
"She did a lot of work [last start] and when you're four deep facing the breeze at Kembla from the 1000 [metres] to the 400 [metres] you're in trouble," he said.