Jungle Edge (Image: Racing Photos)
Melbourne's forecast wet weather later this week won't come in time to help mudlark Jungle Edge be highly effective at Flemington on Saturday, according to trainer Mick Bell.
The 10-year-old is nominated for Saturday's Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Headquarters, but Bell says he'll likely bypass the race and head to Sydney for the remainder of the spring.
The popular veteran hasn't raced since July's G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) after missing a run in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on August 22 when the races were abandoned at the water-logged Valley.
Bell says the son of Dubawi will hopefully get permission to gallop between races at Cranbourne on Sunday before heading north with plans to run in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.
"Missing that run at The Valley has unfortunately really mucked around his preparation," Bell said.
"I was tempted to race him at Flemington this weekend, but it looks like the rain won't really hit until later that day.
"We've got plans in place for him to head up to Sydney and have booked Regan Bayliss for the ride in The Shorts.
"We still haven't given up hope that if he runs well there he can be back on people's minds as a long-shot in The Everest with a lot of rain predicted in long-range forecasts.
"The plan is for him to hopefully gallop on Sunday on a Soft surface at Cranbourne and then head up to Sydney.
"With the latest COVID protocols any horse travelling up from Victoria has to spend 48 hours at a spelling farm or property before going on a racecourse, so he'll travel up a bit earlier than we have usually done."