Tom Conlan with Atlantic Spirit after winning the ive > Handicap at Sportsbet Sandown Hillside Racecourse on March 20, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
A Tuesday morning track gallop will let Tom Conlan know whether he is able to chase his first Flemington Saturday city winner with Atlantic Spirit this weekend.
The Ballarat trainer’s stable star is among the nominations for three races with the $150,000 TAB/ATA Trainers’ Trust Handicap, which is the fourth heat of the Creswick Sprint Series for three-year-olds, his preferred choice.
The 1100-metre event is the race Conlan set his sights on with Atlantic Spirit after her luckless fourth placing in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes on May 11, only to see her put her place in doubt last week.
“She just had a little hiccup last week, but hopefully we’re all good,” Conlan said.
“She just kicked out at a rail and cut her back leg a little bit but I’m hoping she gallops well tomorrow and we can go full steam ahead.”
Atlantic Spirit, a daughter of Frosted, had a three-race winning streak snapped in the Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville, when she struggled to find clear running for much of the race but kept closing to only be beaten three quarters of a length at $51.
That 1200m event was her fourth run for the campaign, but she has thrived since according to Conlan.
“She’s jumping out of her skin and I probably should have given her a trial,” Conlan said.
“She’s just that tough, she loves it, and that’s how she hurt herself – just feeling too good.
“So, we’re going to gallop he tomorrow and vet her and if she’s not right, even a little bit, we’re going to wait a week or two and give her one more (run) then tip her out.”
Victory on Saturday would be a career milestone for Conlan, whose biggest win came when Atlantic Spirit won at this year’s Golden Mile meeting at Bendigo.
His sole Flemington success was with The Reluctant Star at the Wednesday meeting just before Christmas last year.
Atlantic Spirit is one of 40 entries for the TAB/ATA Trainers’ Trust Handicap, while she is also nominated for the 1200m BM84 handicap and the BM78 fillies and mares’ handicap, which is over 1400m.