No wet track fears for Know Thyself in Winx Guineas

By Glenn Davis

The Scone training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich hold no fears about a wet track with their exciting three-year-old Know Thyself in the Group 3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Persistent rain at Caloundra is likely to lead to a heavy track rating but Messara is convinced it won’t be a concern for the son of boom sire, The Autumn Sun.

Know Thyself will be ridden by Sydney’s Rachel King with regular rider Aaron Bullock struck down with a bout of ‘flu.

Know Thyself has started four times for three wins and a second, and Bullock was aboard in all three victories.

“Aaron was going to come up to ride him again but he’s got the ‘flu and being a heavyweight rider it’s hard for him,” Messara said.

“He’s got a good association with the horse and the only time he didn’t ride him he got rolled.”

Messara has no doubt Know Thyself will acquit himself well on a heavy track despite stepping out to 1600 metres for the first time.

Know Thyself strolled home to win a 1400-metre TAB Highway by more than five lengths at Rosehill last month.

“It was a heavy track that day so the track isn’t going to be a problem,” Messara said.

“There’s wet tracks and there's wet tracks and one day they’ll handle it and another they won’t.

“But on face value, he’ll get through it and I’m confident he’ll eventually run 2000 metres.”

Messara has been training in partnership with Gavranich for the past 10 months and has one of the best strike rates in the country.

The pair is striking at 31 per cent this season with 39 wins from 126 starters in NSW.

Messara was super impressed with Know Thyself’s recent Highway win.

“It was a very good win in the Highway last start,” he said.

“They rolled along in front at a pretty good clip and he had to be ridden hard early to hold his position, so it was a very good win.

“He’ll certainly get the 1600-metre trip on Saturday as he’s quite a push button horse and can settle anywhere.”

Know Thyself was passed in as a yearling at the Sydney Easter sales for $220,000.

“We were in a partnership with an American group who we had foaled shared his mare,” Messara said.

“We had a $300,000 reserve on him, but when he was passed in we bought the American group out of the partnership.

“It was a joint venture with the Americans owning the mare while we put up the service fee and took care of the foal and split the result from the ring.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t sell but I thought he was an outstanding type and would bring a lot more money.

“Ladbrokes Racing Club came in after the sale and now part own him with Arrowfield.”

Know Thyself has already vindicated Messara’s decision to buy him back at the Sydney Easter sales after recently knocking back a huge offer from Hong Kong believed to be over $1 million.