Last Saturday’s Flemington winner Lord Aspen is set to back up this week and is among the nominations for the Group 2 $300,000 Sportingbet Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Sandown.
Lord Aspen is set to back up in the Sandown Guineas after winning the Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
South Australian trainer Mick Huxtable was thrilled to saddle up a winner over the Melbourne Cup Carnival and said that Lord Aspen would be looking for more Spring Carnival riches after winning the Listed $150,000 Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes (1400m).
“Sandown Guineas next Saturday if he pulls up ok and the paddock after that,” Huxtable said after the three year old’s win on Saturday.
Huxtable has a high opinion of Lord Aspen and has already ear marked next year’s Autumn and Spring Carnivals for the Good Journey gelding.
“He is going to be a good horse next time, he is just a lovely horse,” Huxtable said.
“He will be back in the autumn and probably have a light couple of runs and then be set for the spring.”
The Melbourne Racing Club have extended nominations for the Sandown Guineas until 10am, Melbourne time, on Tuesday after only fourteen entries were received on Monday morning.
The Peter Moody pair of Ducal Castle and Ulmann have been nominated after finishing third and fifth behind Lord Aspen in the Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes on Saturday.
Ducal Castle scored his maiden win two starts back over 1200m at Mornington while Ulmann scored a four and half lengths win in maiden company at Hamilton on October 10 before running second over 1400m at Sale two starts back.
Leading trainer Darren Weir has nominated Stratum Star who is racing in fine form with two Listed class wins before his last start second in the Group 3 $200,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 1.
At his two previous starts Stratum Star won the Listed $120,000 Yellowglen Vintage Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 4 and then followed that up with a win in the Listed $120,000 Crown Lager Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
Godolphin’s well bred colt Careless is also among the entries and is a likely improver on his last start fifth in the Carbine Club Stakes.
The Tom Hughes trained Chill Party brought his winning country form to town last start with an eye catching second in the Listed $150,000 TCL 4K UHD TV Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day and the 1600m will suit.
Zululand from the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable is struggling to regain his good Autumn form which saw him win the Group 2 $220,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington as well as running second to Go Indy Go in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The Fastnet Rock colt has been unplaced from six runs this campaign and was beaten three lengths when sixth in Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 at his most recent start.
