Star Rolling was one of the big winners from the 2014 Epsom Handicap barrier draw that was held at Star Casino yesterday and co-trainer Peter Morgan is confident that the talented gelding will get a great run when he jumps from barrier three in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Star Rolling has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Star Rolling has shown plenty of tactical versatility throughout his racing career, but has generally produced his best performances when ridden just behind the leaders and Morgan told Racing Ahead that jockey Linda Meech should be able to settle the Casino Prince gelding in third or fourth position in the early stages of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
“It is a good draw,” Morgan said,
“I’m not sure how it is going to pan out, but some of the better ones are going to have to come from behind us.
“There will be a couple of on pace ones and we might just get a nice run up behind them.
“Linda Meech takes the ride; she does a fair bit of riding for me and she doesn’t do much wrong, so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Star Rolling started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a narrow win in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16, but was slightly disappointing in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 before finishing eighth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.
Morgan admits that Star Rolling may have been outclassed under weight-for-age conditions in the Underwood Stakes, but has been happy with the way the five-year-old has bounced back from the run and believes he gets into the 2014 Epsom Handicap field well in the weights.
“I’ve not sure what came out of that,” Morgan said,
“There was a horse leading sitting out wide and whether we should have poked up and joined him or not, I’m not sure.
“He did show a little bit of turn-of-foot around the turn, but then they left him behind, whether he is a Group 1 weight-for-age horse I’m not sure about that.
“He won’t know what is on his back and the only disappointing thing is that it is not going to be wet up there for Saturday.
“Everything has been very good with him and I am very happy with him.”
Star Rolling is currently available at 2014 Epsom Handicap odds of $13 with Ladbrokes Australia.
