The certainty of another heavy track at Royal Randwick tomorrow means a further delay to Mugatoo’s return to the races.
Last year's All-Star Mile winner is on the comeback trial and was due to start in tomorrow's Listed Winter Challenge (1500m); a race he won two years ago when it was run at Rosehill Gardens.
However, with a "Heavy 10" rating and further rain forecast in Sydney today, Kris Lees has ruled out a resumption for the time being.
"I'm happy with Mugatoo , but won't risk him after such a long layoff," he said this morning.
"At this stage, I'm looking to trial him again at Scone on Wednesday."
Mugatoo hasn't raced since sustaining a serious tendon injury in the Group 1 wfa Doomben Cup (2000m) in May last year, and his trainer has taken him along steadily to give him every chance to make a successful return.
The rising eight-year-old has won nine of his 21 starts, including the $5m All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley only two months before he contested the Doomben Cup.
The rail is out 12m from the 1000m to the winning post and 10m for the remainder of the circuit tomorrow and, whilst Mugatoo will be an absentee, Lees will still have three other representatives at the Winter Challenge meeting.
He runs Enchanted Heart (July Sprint, 1100m), Our Candidate (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2400m), and Per Inaway (3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1500m).
Jason Collett rides both Enchanted Heart and Our Candidate, and leading apprentice Tyler Schiller has the mount on Per Inaway.
"The conditions are going to suit Enchanted Heart," Lees said. "She relishes heavy ground, and is coming back from two runs in Brisbane in Group 1 and 2 company on firmer ground.
"I'm expecting her to run really well.
"It was good to see Our Candidate get back into the winning list at his last start at the Grafton carnival.
"Admittedly, that was in a Class 6 Rural Plate (2200m) at set weights and he goes up from 57.5kg to 60kg tomorrow.
"But hopefully the Grafton win has given him a lift in confidence, and he is in great order.
"Tyler Schiller's 2kg claim will help offset Per Inaway's 59.5kg topweight, and there are already three scratchings from her race.
"She is racing well, is back against her own age and is a tough filly, so she is there with a definite chance."
. Lees won't run his only acceptor Cristalino (1900m Maiden Plate) at Gosford tomorrow because of another "Heavy 10" rating for the provincial fixture, and is also wary of starting a number of horses at the corresponding Doomben meeting.
That track was downgraded to a "Heavy 8" this morning, and the Brisbane forecast today isn't good either.
Pomade (2YO Handicap, 1050m), Miracle Day (Class 3 Plate, 1110m) and Cristal Breeze and Ventura Ocean (both Class 6 Handicap, 1350m for colts, geldings and entires) all are not certain runners.
However, Strange Charm (Michael Cahill) will definitely line up in the Class 6 Handicap (1350m) against her own sex.
"Strange Charm likes rain-affected ground, and has won at Doomben," Lees said.
"She has a few ticks there, but needs to stand up tomorrow following three unplaced runs this time in work."
