Hill keeps Man Of His Word to Qld option

The Sydney handicapper has made trainer Bruce Hill’s decision to keep Man Of His Word in Brisbane an easy one.

Hill had accepted with Man Of His Word in the Iona Old Boys Open Handicap (1600m) at Doomben and the Star Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

He wanted to assess the strength of the fields and the weather before making a decision.

“He had 60.5kg in Sydney and 59kg in Brisbane. As it turned out the Sydney race was stronger and he had a bigger weight so the decision wasn’t hard,” Hill said

Man Of His Word will now head straight to Melbourne after Saturday.

“There are a couple of races in Melbourne around the 1600 metres we are looking at,” Hill said.

Man Of His Word was a strong-finishing second first-up behind Supreme Effort at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago.

“He is getting out to 1600 metres but he should be hard to beat with any luck,” Hill said.

Man Of His Word won his first stakes race in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) and has consistently been around the mark at the distance in black-type races.

“He has been consistent in better company than Saturday’s field and if there is any rain about it won’t worry him,” Hill said.

His son-in-law Paul Hammersley will ride Man Of His Word at Doomben and could have the ride in Melbourne.

Hammersley is in form with a double at Ipswich on Wednesday on Slydini and Gun Bolt.