Shades to help Palazzo Spirit find old form

By Glenn Davis

Proven Thoroughbreds boss Jamie Walter is hopeful his former top juvenile Palazzo Spirit can rediscover his old form when he clashes with boom Rockhampton filly Chinny Boom at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Palazzo Spirit will wear blinkers for the first time when he makes his comeback in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1000 metres.

The training partnership of Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted have booked apprentice Angela Jones to ride Palazzo Spirit, who hasn’t started since finishing last in the Listed Dalrello Stakes over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm in April.

Palazzo Spirit showed above average ability early in his career, winning his first two starts including the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm in December.

However, he blotted his copybook at his third start, finishing sixth to Coolangatta in the Group 3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Boxing Day last year.

A decision was then made to geld Palazzo Spirit but he was immediately turned out after he finished last when returning in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm on April 30.

“We’re putting the shades on him for the first time and we’re hoping he can get back to his best,” Walter said.

“We couldn’t identify anything specifically wrong with him after his Dalrello run when he was caught off the track.

“Maybe he didn’t handle the gelding operation too well so that’s why we tipped him out straight after the Dalrello.

“A lot of horses have an advantage because they’re mentally and physically stronger than others but they don’t train on.”

Walter has no immediate plans in mind with Palazzo Spirit, who has won two of his four starts.

Chinny Boom is unbeaten in four starts across Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville and smashed the long-standing track record in her last start Rockhampton victory on October 4.

Chinny Boom strolled home by more than eight lengths against her own age over 1050 metres that day, smashing the track record of 59.27 seconds by 0.68 seconds on a rain-affected track.

Her time for the final 600 metres was a sizzling 32.24 seconds while her combined winning margins in her four victories has been just short of 20 lengths.

Chinny Boom’s trainer Clinton Taylor has sent the daughter of Spirit Of Boom south for the Listed Mode Stakes at Doomben on December 3.