Trainer Mathew Ellerton is not a big believer in weights and measures and says a shorter trip was instrumental in Blue Renegade getting back into winning form.
Blue Renegade took out the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday, to be unbeaten at the track, and in the process turn the tables on Interest Point.
Interest Point led home Blue Renegade at Caulfield on June 1 over 1100m, but this time around there was a swing of 2-½ kilograms in the Ellerton-trained colt’s favour.
Blue Renegade runs out a clear winner as a $3.70 favourite; picture Racing Photos
Sent out the $3.70 favourite under Ethan Brown, Blue Renegade scored by 2-¼ lengths from Interest Point ($3.80), with Clean Reef ($6.50) a half-head away third.
“I thought back to the 1000 metres was an advantage to us,” Ellerton said. “He’s a naturally fast sort of horse and I thought the 1000 metres would help us.
“He did get challenged in front last time and we were challenged late, but to the horse’s credit he fought back on the line, and I thought the 1000 metres was suitable today.”
Blue Renegade has now had four starts, registering two wins and two second placings. Ellerton said he was a little surprised at the steps the son of Blue Point (Ire) had made this campaign.
The trainer described the two-year-old as an ‘ugly duckling’ when he first started work with the colt, but this time in he has grown and furnished.
“He’s done a very good job and is really deep into a preparation now and for not an overly robust horse, he’s done a great job,” Ellerton said. “I would say he probably deserves a break. He’s a developing sort of horse and I think he will be a beautiful three-year-old.
“While he is a nice-looking horse, he still has some filling out and growing to do. He was a pretty ugly duckling last time around and he’s jumped out of the ground. I never thought I’d see him looking like that. He’s quite a nice-looking horse now.”