Kratzmann Takes Egg Shift In His Stride

QUEENSLAND owner-trainer Clint Kratzmann says he is “not concerned” with the shift in dates for the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg (520m) at Wentworth Park.

Kratzmann owns and trains one of the early pre-post favourites for the series, dual Derby winner Oh Mickey (Fernando Bale-Iona Champion).

The brilliant sprinter, who resumes tonight in a free for all (520m) at Albion Park, has raced just 11 times for eight wins and has earned $135,000 from victories in the Group 1 National Derby and Group 2 Richmond Derby.

“At the moment, we are living in unusual times and we have to take all these things as they come – I understand the decision,” said Kratzmann of the Easter Egg shift.

The Group 1 series has been moved and changed to a two-week series with heats on May 30 and the final on June 6.

“It's not the end of the world in terms of the preparation of Oh Mickey,” said Kratzmann.

“In the meantime he is eligible to go into the New Sensation series which has been retained at its initial timeslot. He could go in that first and then the Egg later on.”

Kratzmann said Oh Mickey had pulled up extremely well after winning the Derby at Richmond but he had taken the precaution of giving him an easy week immediately after the race.

“His race tonight was to bring on his fitness for the first round of the Egg on Saturday week,” he said.

“If we don't go to the New Sensation, he can run in top grades at Albion Park to give him more seasoning and experience before the Egg.”

Kratzmann said the Egg would not clash with the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson at Sandown in May a race restricted to males only. He is seriously weighing up which Group 1 race to target.

“I could not be happier with the dog,” he said.

“At the end of the day, I've got just a couple of dogs in training and the move in dates for the Egg will not really impact upon us.”