Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Sir Now Caulfield plans have been locked in, with Murray Bridge trainer Darryl Hewitt sending the consistent sprinter to Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes over 1100m.
Hewitt will also run Snoopy Now in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap over 1700m, with both horses chasing suitable Victorian options after limited race choices in South Australia.
The trip adds another strong Caulfield storyline on the weekend, following Angels Fury’s Caulfield return for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Sir Now Gets His Chance
Sir Now has won nine of his 24 starts, placed eight times and earned more than $400,000. Hewitt said the move east was forced by weight and race conditions at home.
“He can’t race here because there’s no races for him,” Hewitt commented.
“He’s running around 65 kilos on his back, but he’s been pretty honest all the way through.”
“Ideally you would stay in your own backyard as he’s been pretty competitive, but he deserves a chance over there.”
“The track is going to be a soft five or six come Saturday, but he can handle heavy going, if it goes that way, and he comes down four-and-a-half or five kilos on his last run.”
Sir Now has firmed from $15 to $6.50 in early betting, with Connor Murtagh taking over from apprentice Alysha Warren.
Hewitt Returns To Familiar Ground
Hewitt raced in Victoria about 20 years ago from Benalla with Merlot Now and Sparkling Now. He said Sir Now’s rating has created a similar situation to Merlot Now, who also outgrew Adelaide company.
“They came home pretty quick that day and we went over thinking it was going to be a wet track and it ended up being a Good 3, and he finished not far behind Rey Magnerio.”
“He won’t disgrace himself over there on Saturday.”
Official Victorian race fields and results are available through Racing Victoria.
Snoopy Now, who comes off a benchmark 78 win, will carry topweight under apprentice Jackson Radley.
“It’s like the SANFL over here, against the AFL over there, and we’re getting rated the same,” Hewitt remarked.
“He’s taking an 85 rating over there against other 85 rated horses that are racing against better quality week in, week out.”
