Hard work showing with Thunder Teddington

Trainer Jason Warren says it has taken considerable time to work out imported galloper Thunder Teddington andhe believes he’s now winning the battle.

Bred in England, Thunder Teddington did his early racing in Hungary before making his way to Australia earlier in the year.

Thunder Teddington had one autumn start before a break and on Saturday in the Skipton Handicap at Flemington will be lining up for his sixth Australian start.

Warren said Thunder Teddington’s last-start eighth to Pilote D’essai in the Pakenham Cup has brought the son of Halling to peak condition for Saturday’s 2500m race.

“I thought he ran into the race at Pakenham really well but hit a flat spot and then only ground to the line,” Warren said.

“That run’s brought him to his peak and we’ve taken the ear muffs off, so I think he’ll improve a lot off that.”

Warren said Thunder Teddington had taken time to adapt to Australian conditions while at the same time testing his training techniques.

He says he resists taking the gelding to Mornington for trackwork and instead uses alternatives to get him fit and keep him mentally fresh.

“He’s a tricky horse in that we can’t do a lot with him on the track,” Warren said.

“We do a lot of hill work with him, work down the beach and a lot of work at our farm.

“We’ve worked him out now and he’s going super.”

Warren is also represented in the Scamanda Handicap with Danger Close looking to break a long run of outs and Sang Choi Bao.

He said there wasn’t a lot between the pair and the race being benchmark 78 class will suit Danger Close.

Danger Close paid a hefty penalty for winning the Listed Barton Stakes at Sandown in December 2014, his most recent victory.

“He’s dropped enough in the ratings to get into a race where he can win again and he’s a Flemington winner previously,” Warren said.

“Sang Choi Bao ran really well last start at Geelong and he too has run well previously at Flemington.

“We go there fingers crossed that one of them can win.”