DILMI ALTERS TRAVEL PLANS WITH I AM CARROT

IT’S Brisbane and not Sydney for talented three-year-old I Am Carrot on Saturday.

And his Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi is changing tack with travel plans trying to have him “spot on” for the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

“I normally send my horses to Brisbane on Wednesday nights when they are racing there on Saturdays,” Dilmi said this morning.

“But I’m trying something different and not sending I Am Carrot north until tonight.

“His trackwork rider Brooke is going with him, and I will fly to Brisbane tomorrow.”

Dilmi explained that I Am Carrot didn’t settle in really well when he sent him to Brisbane a fortnight ago when he ran ninth in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm as a well-supported $3.20 second favorite.

“I understand he didn’t settle all that well either when Sara (Ryan, his previous trainer) took him to Brisbane 12 months ago.

“By taking him to Brisbane a day later, we’ll keep his mind busy and hopefully have him ready to run to his best on Saturday.”

Dilmi labelled I Am Carrot’s latest Brisbane defeat as a “forgive run”.

“Apart from the fact he didn’t settle well enough after arriving, they weren’t winning up on the pace that day,” he said.

“I’ve been very happy with him at home since.

“He has been eating well and working well, and deserves another chance to win a nice race against his own age at the winter carnival.”

Dilmi also accepted with I Am Carrot in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens, but an outside draw (18) there made up his mind to head north.

Jason Collett rode the Castelvechio three-year-old when he won a Graduation Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) with 60kg at the Kensington track on May 13, and is back on him on Saturday.

Dilmi has dual acceptors Stability and The Project in both the Midway 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m) and Super Maiden Plate (1300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.

At this stage he is leading toward splitting the pair up, with The Prospect going to the 1400m race. Stablemate Bellevue (Christian Reith), who won two on end last preparation, tackles the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1250m) at his second run back.

Meanwhile, Dilmi has reluctantly aborted plans to take Humanity to the “Top End” for the Darwin Cup (2000m) on August 3.

“I haven’t been able to get a suitable flight to get him to Darwin, and they are infrequent,” he said.

“I wouldn’t consider sending him by road, so he‘ll have a break and we will reassess things.

“Perhaps the Listed Devonport Cup (1880m) in Tasmania in January might be an option.”

Humanity thrashed his rivals by eight lengths with 60kg over 2000m on the Gold Coast polytrack on May 2, following on from his only previous victories in the UK also on synthetic tracks (Lingfield Park and Kempton Park).

He hasn’t been able to win on turf, and the Devonport Cup will be run on an all-weather (Tapeta) surface at Spreyton racecourse.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 11, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS