BIZZWINKLE IN MELBOURNE

[Wandering Eyes]

Bizzwinkle (pictured) winning the 2018 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup.

A trial at Cranbourne on Monday will give Ballarat trainer Patrick Payne a better guide on the progress of dour Kiwi stayer Bizzwinkle, a newcomer to his stable.

Matamata trainer Glenn Old sent Bizzwinkle, the star of his stable and winner of last November’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) to Payne last month and the Rip Van Winkle six-year-old is entered for an 1190m trial at Cranbourne, which also includes the long-awaited reappearance of the 2018 Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes winner Gailo Chop.

“The trial will be far too short for him, but it should give Patrick a chance to assess him,’’ Old said.

‘’He had a good spell after the Wellington Cup and I’d done a fair bit with him before he went over. I gave him a trial at Te Rapa (July 15) and he had a good blow-out. He’s a pretty clean-winded horse.’’

A winner of six of his 19 starts, Bizzwinkle has remained in his New Zealand ownership and Old says Payne will be in contact when he works out a race programme.

‘’He’s asked me a bit about him and all I can really say is he’s a dead-set one-paced stayer,’’ Old said.

‘’There’s also a 2800m race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day that could suit him, but we’ll leave it up to Patrick.’’

Old also sent over Clearly Now (a placegetter in two of his four starts) to Payne and the four-year-old son of Thewayyouare made his Australian debut under the name of See It All when second at Mildura last week.

‘’It was a A$23,000 maiden race way out in the bush,’’ Old said. ‘’He should have no trouble winning a few races over there.’’

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