The start for the Tommy Wong trained filly ONE STEP (Sidestep x Our Abbey) will
be another milestone in the journey of former Australian champion 2yo colt
SIDESTEP (Exceed and Excel x Dextrous) who now stands at Telemon Thoroughbreds
at Innisplain in Queensland.ONE STEP is already the first black type runner for SIDESTEP but will have her work cut out after drawing barrier 14 of 15.
"What is the point of keeping her at home when she's ready to race," said Tommy Wong without reservation.
Wong will discuss tactics prior to the race with jockey Andrew Adkins.
"She is a jump and run filly so the barrier is not great but you don't get a filly that is good enough to contest these types of races very often," he said.
ONE STEP won her first barrier trial at her home track of Hawkesbury on 10 September over 760m and then backed up a week later to place a close second at the Kensington 2yo trials over 849m.
According to Wong, her first barrier trial came quicker than expected when he received a phone call from stewards offering a place for the filly due to a light number on nominations.
There were not enough two-year-olds for a trial against her own age group so she took on older mares and trialled impressively.
"I bought her on type," said Wong. "She's not big or small and I can't afford an EXCEED AND EXCEL so SIDESTEP was the next best thing."
A trainer of 18 years now based at Hawkesbury Racecourse, Wong's client base are predominantly friends in Hong Kong.
Wong and his friends buy yearlings which he pre-trains in Australia before sending the best to Hong Kong.
"It is what I love doing though at times it can be hard as the qualifications required to obtain a permit are strict and having to deliver the bad news they are not good enough can be tough," he said.
You have to be in it to win it and the trainer from Hawkesbury will be there on the big stage come Saturday mixing it with the industry's elite with a fast filly by the fastest son of EXCEED AND EXCEL.
For further information on SIDESTEP visit www.telemonstud.com.au
