Darabad

Laing import nominated for this week but may not run.


Could run in the 3200m Adelaide Cup first up.

Yep. Laing is considering running him 3200m first up.
Seems to think it works for the imports that come out here in the spring.

Think it should happen more often just a little surprised with this fella.

Darabad will also reappear after being gelded during his spell.

Needs 6400m

Lord Hybrow wrote: That was actually a pretty good effort to tough it out at the end of 3200m. His effort on Cup day wasn’t bad either. Looks like Robbie is getting him fitter and these 2800m+ races look his go. There’ll definitely be a race win around for him soon.

Grand Annual looks his go

I am going to have a little eachway Christmas cheer on this guy today back to the 1700m.

If only the Perth Cup was still 3200
Would of suited this guy. Class wise and distance wise

I think jumping might be on the cards for him

Scratched from the SA Grand National Hurdle today.

Probably a good call by Robbie Laing. Whilst he’s been winning hurdle trials by massive margins his jumping has been pretty ragged.

Taking on battle hardened hurdlers like Honey Steels Gold & co over 3500m at his hurdle debut probably wasn’t the right race to start his jumping career anyway.

Here’s hoping with a bit more education Robbie can get him jumping cleanly and we see him in a 3200m maiden hurdle somewhere over the winter.

VICTORIAN stewards have forced the scratching of exciting jumping prospect Darabad from Saturday’s $50,000 Grand National Hurdle at Morphettville.

Trainer Robbie Laing said he was told on Thursday that the horse hadn’t been passed the mandatory 2800m trial robbing the $50,000 feature of its most interesting runner.

“He was going to be the excitement machine in the race, he was going to lead them by a big space,’’ Laing said.

“He led by 25 lengths in a Sandown Cup and was only beaten two lengths, he’s got untapped stamina, that’s his go he can do that all day.’’


Darabad (black, red and white colours) finishes fourth behind Fanatic in the Sandown Cup in November. Picture: Getty Images
Laing said the decision and reasoning for the horse’s scratching came as complete shock and has derailed his winter campaign.

“The stewards tell me that three weeks ago when he won his 2800m trial, which it took them until yesterday (Thursday) to tell me, that they decided not to pass him,’’ the frustrated trainer said.

“The thing they knocked him is the fact he goes at race speed, where as the others canter.

“He’s had the four trials. In Victoria you have to pass over the 2400m and the 2800m.

“In the 2800m trial he walked through one (jump) early when the jockey was trying to restrain him and he only won by a couple of lengths. The jockey said he didn’t get a really good look at it.’’

Laing headed to Warrnambool for another trial on Tuesday which has turned out a waste of the stables time and money.

“We took him down to Warrnambool and the steward there said, “he has to qualify over 2800m”, we pointed out that he had, so he trialled over 2400m and won by 50 lengths and qualified.

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“They then rang me yesterday (Thursday) to said that when he trialled over 2800m he clouted a fence and they aren’t going to pass him.

“They could have told me that at Warrnambool on Tuesday I would have waited 15 minutes and trailed over 2800m, instead we spent $600 on a float trip and spent five hours on the road.’’

Laing said it has cost connections more than just a start in Saturday’s Adelaide feature.

“He was supposed to go to Bendigo on Sunday week but I’ve had a look and there is no upcoming trials so it looks like they won’t be seeing possibly the most exciting jumper in Australia, that’s after four trials and lot of mucking around,’’ Laing added.

The Cranbourne trainer now heads to Adelaide with promising two-year-old Thorondor who was a winner here on debut before being narrowly beaten by promising filly Assertive Play last time out.

“I told Joe (Bowditch, jockey) last start “don’t get to the corner and go for him, let him get through his gears”,’’ Laing said.

“I think to everyone’s surprise the winner went bang and grabbed him but to his credit he didn’t lay down.

“He seems a bit fitter and focused this week and should be hard to beat.’’

Laing also saddles up Ritorno who chased home boom sprinter Nature Strip at Flemington last time out.

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crooked_gambler wrote: He can’t jump at all, terrible just charges through them.

crooked_gambler wrote: It’s a disgrace. Just proves my point that Robbie Laing can’t train. The horse has no idea what he is supposed to do.

He has given him a lot of trials.

Pity they haven't the old fences with the log takeoffs , he'd soon bloody learn to pick his feet up.