Philadelphia Man closes in on making return to racing

Philadelphia Man is likely to wait until after the AG Hunter Cup at Melton on Sunday, February 3, before making his racing return.

Cardigan trainer Emma Stewart has nominated Philadelphia Man for the $500,000 Hunter Cup, but the group 1 event is coming up far too quickly for the comeback pacer.

The now 9yo, which has not raced since the Inter-Dominion final in Perth in December, 2015, trailed in Ballarat on Saturday, January 6.

Chris Alford allowed Philadelphia Man to settle fourth in the five-horse trial and went to the line in that position under a good hold.

Stablemate Shadow Sax took out the trial, with the last 800m run in 54.2 seconds and 400 in 26.0.

Stewart’s partner Clayton Tonkin said they were really happy with the progress Philadelphia Man had made after a frustrating few years.

Philadelphia Man was initially diagnosed with back and fetlock problems after a testing Inter Dominion campaign in which he won two heats and finished second in another before an eighth to Lennytheshark in the final.

Tonkin said it was not until after an MRI after the best part of a year on the sidelines that it was discovered that a cracked hock had been the problem.

He said once they began treatment for this the entire began to come good again.

Tonkin said unfortunately Philadelphia Man had been away from the races longer than he needed to be.

A two-time group 1 winner, Philadelphia Man has an outstanding record with 24 wins in just 48 starts for $550,000 in earnings.

PHILADEPLHIA Man is one of four nominations Stewart and Tonkin have for the Hunter Cup.

They also have Ideal For Real, Major Secret and Shadow Sax.

Another on the comeback trail after knee issues, IDEAL FOR REAL had his first race start since August 2016 in the Bendigo Pacing Cup on Saturday, January 6, and after being engaged in a blistering battle for the lead early tired and finished last in the field of seven.

MAJOR SECRET is a likely starter in the group 1 $100,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup for a second year in a row.

Tonkin said there was no hardier horse in the stable than Major Secret , which took everything in his stride as demonstrated by the way he had come through two trips Tasmania in the past month.

Having had a long break after a big campaign last summer, Major Secret won the Launceston and Tasmanian Cups, and was only just caught in the last few strides in the Cobram Cup on Sunday, January 8.

SHADOW SAX is set to line up in the group 1 $100,000 South Australian Cup in Adelaide on Saturday, January 13.