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Dead Flemington track against Riceman

Thursday 23 June 2011
Mark Ryan

Mt Gambier trainer Dean Saxon says he is disappointed the track has come up only dead for superior wet tracker Riceman in Saturday's $100,000 David Bourke Provincial Plate at Flemington.

The rising 11-year-old has won seven of his 10 starts on heavy tracks, but the track at Flemington was on Thursday rated a dead (4).

"I said to the owners this is his time of the year but there has been only 10mm of rain at Flemington this week," Saxon said.

"I'm so disappointed because its been raining everywhere else."

Last year Riceman ran fifth, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, to Leica Larrikin in the Provincial Plate on a slow track at his sixth run in.

"We've set him for this race. We've held him back a month and he's going into it at his fifth run in this time," Saxon said.

"We're zeroing in to July and August with him."

Riceman had his first start for Saxon in November 2009 and has since won three races and been placed three times, earning around $170,000 in prizemoney.

The Runyon gelding won on heavy tracks at Cranbourne and Flemington last May-June and in September took out the Golden Mile at Bendigo from Provincial Plate rival Fasmoss on a dead surface.

"We meet Fasmoss three kilos better for that meeting so we're well placed in the race," Saxon said.

"We've got the perfect barrier (eight) to come sweeping down the middle but unfortunately for us the track is looking like it will be a fraction too dry for him.

"We might just have to be patient and accept it. What it does is let the others quicken but a heavy track takes away their dash but makes no difference to this horse."

Last start Riceman ran his best race so far this preparation when fifth, beaten just over three lengths, to Euphoric Realm over 1700m on a dead (5) track at Flemington on June 11.

He finished third to Doubtful Jack in last year's Winter Championship Final at Flemington and that Listed 1600m event on July 9 is again an option.

Saxon prepares six horses and said that his training methods suit Riceman who had been in three other stables and retired twice before he took him over.

"He's had a tendon, he's been a bleeder and he nearly lost an eye, but when I got him he was as good as gold. He'd had a year off and was sound," he said.

"He's been no issue for me at all."

Saxon said he works his horses barefoot and they are led off a vehicle through a pine forest adjacent to his property.

"It has a sandy surface with nice hills and they do plenty of mileage work," he said.

"It's been a big part in keeping this horse sound and happy."

Peter Mertens will ride Riceman who is at $21 with TAB Sportsbet which has Mr Griswold $4.50 favourite just ahead of Moment To Savour at $4.60, Finishing Card at $5.50, Swan Hill Cup winner Can Do at $8.50 and How Fairdinkum at $9.50.