Racing
Valley Test for Law
Aiming for three straight wins, Test The Waters in Melbourne bound to run at The Valley.
Murray Bridge trainer Matthew Seyers's first thought was to remain in South Australia with dual acceptor Test The Law.
With consecutive wins at Morphettville Parks in his last two outings, Seyers considered a trip down the highway from Murray Bridge to Morphettville on Saturday was a sound option.
Even lumbered with 64.5kg in the SkyCity Handicap (2008m) on Saturday, Seyers thoughts were to stay home and run with senior rider Jacob Opperman, who has ridden the gelding in most of his outings, aboard.
That was until Seyers saw the barrier draw with Test The Law drawing the second outside gate.
Seyers had also accepted with Test The Law in the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley and with the gelding drawing barrier 5 thought a trip across the border would be a better proposition.
Saturday's race at The Valley is a benchmark 100 contest compared to the benchmark 78 opposition he would be facing in Adelaide, and while Test The Law is accustomed to carrying big weights in Adelaide, Seyers said the gelding will not know himself with just 53.5kg at The Valley.
"Original thoughts were if he had drawn a soft gate with the big weight we would have stayed in Adelaide with it being a tough race in Melbourne," Seyers said.
"But he's drawn 10 of 11 and five in Melbourne, so we'll test the waters in Melbourne.
"He's got to relax in the run, but he hasn't had 53-½ kilos on his back for a long time.
"He doesn't owe the ownership group much this time in, so we'll venture over and see where he stands in the pecking order over there."
Test The Law has raced at The Valley previously, finishing third over 1600m in December 2023.
All of his racing since has been in South Australia, registering a further seven wins from his career tally of ten.
Seyers said he has followed a similar training regime since Test The Law's last win on July 19 over 2250m in benchmark 80 company.
"He's bright as a button come feed time and his work on Monday morning on the course proper at Murray Bridge was good," Seyers said.
"He goes into the race off a similar type of program as last time."
Jockey Lachlan Neindorf takes the ride at The Valley, having recently relocated from Adelaide.
Neindorf last rode Test The Law in last October's Listed Murray Bridge Cup, but he did win aboard the gelding in his maiden success at Murray Bridge in May 2022.
"He's been riding really well over here and he'll be keen to kick some goals over there, so we're happy to have him on," Seyers said.
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