Everybody needs good neighbours, even horses.
So, when trainer Mark Newnham noticed Spirit Ridge was becoming affected by the comings and goings of his nearest barn mates, he decided to shift him to a different part of the stable complex where there was less disruption.
Changing boxes can be almost akin to moving house for a horse, but it has been a positive step for Spirit Ridge.
“He’s a funny horse, he tends to worry when he’s got no neighbours,” Newnham said.
“If you take the horses next to him out to work and leave him on his own, he gets a bit uptight.
“I have moved him to a quieter part of the stable and just tried to make sure he’s got a neighbour with him all the time and he’s a lot better.”
Spirit Ridge will leave his neighbours to their own devices when he sets out for Rosehill to kick off his carnival in Saturday’s Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m).
It is the same race he resumed in last autumn when he was narrowly defeated by Toffee Tongue and with just nine rivals in Saturday’s renewal, along with a handy strike-rate on rain-affected tracks, Newnham again expects him to be hard to beat.
Spirit Ridge was extended to two-miles last year in the Sydney Cup, but Newnham said he would be restricted to 2400m this time around after failing to stay.
“I won’t stretch him out. After this run it could be either the Tancred (Stakes) or even the Albury Cup depending on how we go,” he said.
Stable apprentice Tom Sherry will partner Spirit Ridge, who presents good value as a $19 chance with Mornington Cup winner Mount Poppa heading markets at $4.40.