Unable to make much of an impact over four starts following an impressive first-up win the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) over spring, trainer Peter Morgan is confident Star Rolling has returned to full fitness ahead of an autumn campaign geared towards the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
Star Rolling will target the Group 1 Australian Cup upon his racing resumption. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
The winner of five races over a 16 race career so far, Star Rolling has not been seen at the races since finishing a disappointing tenth in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 1st.
Confirming the Casino Prince gelding suffered a torn muscle in his hindquarters over the final furlong of the Mackinnon Stakes, Morgan told Racing Ahead the team has been pleased with the condition of the five-year-old in the build up to his racing return and are confident a new approach will lead to success this time in.
“Pleased with him this time,” Morgan said.
“In the Mackinnon he pulled a muscle about a furlong out and he looked like he was going to come into it and then he sort of started bunny-hopping to the line. He did the same as what he did in the Cranbourne Cup (in 2013) – he pulled a muscle in his rump.
“So we’ve changed things around with him a bit this time, he looks great and we’re happy with the way he’s going.
“We’ve just changed his feed a little bit … magnets on him every night just to keep his muscles nice and supple; he’s always got tight muscles.”
Yet to settle on a specific launch point for Star Rolling this season, Morgan said the results of a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Thursday morning will play a key role in the decision.
“We’re just going to see how he trials and then we’ll take it from there.
“His fitness is right and everything’s going well with him.”
Securing several commendable results in the early stages of his maiden racing preparation in 2013, Star Rolling was unlucky to be balloted out of several of his major targets, but did claim success in the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m) most notably in September.
Returning in similarly competitive form over the 2014 Autumn Carnival, Star Rolling placed second in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) and third in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), but was unable to beat a single runner home in the Australia Cup in March.
