Draw gives hope of a 'satisfying' win

A FAVOURABLE draw doubled with improved fitness has given Fifteen Aces' connections hope of a 'satisfying' win this weekend.

Successful in Penrith on June 30, 2023, Fifteen Aces was soon diagnosed with a suspensory injury, which left couple Nathan and Katie Xuereb 'gutted'.

Given Fifteen Aces had previously suffered a similar injury, the Xuerebs decided to retire the six-year-old.

After spending two years on the sidelines, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven was returned to work on a mentor status.

"We'd already nursed him back from a suspensory, done the rehab with him and he made it back to the races, where he won another four or five races," Nathan explained. "After doing the injury again, we just decided to retire him.

"Then after two years I said to Katie why don't we use him to cart babies along, so he started that and was enjoying being active.

"We never planned to bring back to the races, but when the babies went out in December, and he was looking so terrific, we gave him a workout and he pulled up great.

"Then we figured we'd give him another go. He's loving the work, is feeling sensational and looking a million dollars."

Although unplaced during his two starts along the comeback trail, Fifteen Aces will begin from the pole at Club Menangle on Saturday night, with Nathan confident of an improved performance.

"I'm not kidding, I wouldn't say he's a certainty, but the draw brings him right into it," Nathan said. "He has had a couple of runs and I haven't been disappointed in either of them.

"He's gone 1:53.4 and his sectionals for the last half and quarter were quicker than the winner when first-up for two-and-a-half years.

"At his second run he was jogging in, but there were dead ends everywhere I looked and he never got a chance.

"He worked great yesterday, and is feeling just as good as he was in his prime before injury put him out, so I definitely believe he is a place chance."