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  • Durrant Pair Still a Chance for a Flight

    Thursday, 27th May 2021

    Adam Durrant was unable to secure a flight for his stable mates Massimo (Sessions-Highest, by Marscay) and Come Play With Me (Blackfriars-Russian Playmate, by Dr Johnson) for this Saturday's Eagle Farm meeting, but still has plans to get their pair to Queensland, reports rwwa.com.au. Massimo had been due to run in the Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup over 1300m, while Come Play With Me was scheduled for the Gr3 Premier's Cup over 2400m. "We'll just tread water and Massimo will run in the Belmont Sprint," Durrant said. "I'll probably send Come Play With Me around as well, or trial on Monday to get some miles into his legs. Hopefully we can get on the bird on Monday and then make our way to Queensland from there. I think, providing Massimo goes really well, we'll still have a go at the sprint race because there are actually a couple of races around that sprint race and after it that do suit him. Basically, his future is probably on the eastern seaboard anyway, where he's getting in the ratings, so he was going to have to travel over there anyway." Massimo has won eight of his 22 starts and over $700,000, including the Listed Farnley Stakes in September 2020, while Come Play With Me won the 2019 Gr1 Metropolitan Handicap to highlight his 13 wins from 38 starts and earnings over $1.2million. Come Play With Me will be aimed at the Q22 (formerly known as the Gr2 PJ O'Shea Stakes). "The Q22 I think they call it now, they're starting to drop like flies out of that race," said Durrant. "It's worth 1.4 million and it looks like it's going to end up a six-horse field. I'm not being unrealistic, obviously the favourite is going to be too good for us but it's $200,000 to run second and good prize money to run third and fourth, so it could be a kick-off point for him. I think there's a 2200-metre race a week later worth $250,000 and things like that. There's just so many more options, whereas here we've basically got no races left for him, unfortunately."