Still time for a decision on veteran

Having rewound the clock at his most recent start, Decision Time will step back up to stakes company at Canterbury.

Just a few months ago, trainer Clarry Conners was talking about retirement for the nine-year-old but after his last-start win at Flemington those thoughts are on the back burner.

Second in the 2010 Golden Slipper, Decision Time is the last horse from that race still competing and runs next in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m).

His win at Flemington was his first for more than a year and the Warwick Farm-based Conners said he had come through the race well.

“I think the trip away to Melbourne and something new sparked him up,” Conners said.

“Just the variation and the different surroundings helped him.

“He’s come through the race well and there’s plenty of life left in him yet.

“The day will come when he retires but he’s part of the furniture here now so we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”

Decision Time is one of 19 entries for the Canterbury Classic and under the new weight scale introduced in NSW, gets in with 53.5kg.

“That’s another problem now, finding a jockey to ride light,” Conners said.

“I’ve had to go with an apprentice and I’ve booked James Innes.”

Ball Of Muscle is the 59.5kg topweight with Big Money on 59kg.

Innes has joined Deanne Panya at the top of the leaderboard in the battle for this season’s apprentice’s title.

He will be out to make the most of his opportunities on Wednesday at Warwick Farm and Canterbury on Saturday after which his momentum will be stalled by a careless riding suspension.

Among Conners’ other runners on Saturday is Fanning in the three-year-old race over 1100 metres.

The gelding is named for world champion surfer Mick Fanning.

“He is by I Am Invincible and his grand dam is Wave Hello so he is well-named and goes well too,” Conners said.

Fanning has won two of his past three starts and ran third at his most recent on a heavy track at Canterbury.