McLean Declares No Fitness Issue with Trap For Fools

Posted on December 7, 2018 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Trainer Jarrod McLean has emphatically allayed any concerns over the fitness of Trap For Fools in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Trap For Fools will wear concussion plates in the $1 million race, a move that is usually associated with gallopers that suffer from joint and feet issues.

But McLean insists Trap For Fools is a peak fitness and will be at his best as he strives to score the second-leg of an interstate Group 1 double.

“I’m confident the horse is in the right sort of shape and ready to run as well as he can,” McLean told TABradio.

“He is quite a flat-footed horse and we did have problems with his feet obviously in the early part of the Melbourne spring.

“Just to give him a little bit of clearance we have put the concussion plates on, they are nowhere near as alarming as bar plates going on a horse.

“I’m sure come tomorrow (Saturday) we won’t be using concussion plates as an excuse if he happens to get beat.

“He had his final gallop on Tuesday and is not going to get any fitter. We’re getting the fresh legs back on him.

“He is rock-hard fit and ready to go. I couldn’t be any happier with him.”

Trap For Fools won nice races from 22 starts for Lindsey Smith before transferring to McLean’s Yangery stables in Melbourne.

A brilliant last-start winner of the Group Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington when leading, Trap Fools is at $7.50 with TABtouch.

He shares the third line with Material Man. Arcadia Queen holds firm $2.35 favouritism ahead of stable mate Galaxy Star ($4.80).

Trap For Fools has drawn barrier 10 in the Kingston Town Classic.

Perth-born hoop Damien Oliver, fresh from his Group 1 victory on Voodoo Lad in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), will ride the five-year-old.

“I think we have the luxury drawing barrier 10,” McLean said.

“You come out and gradually build.

“We will be positive early to get a spot.

“His best attribute is his strength and toughness.

“We will be using that to our advantage tomorrow (Saturday).