Trainer Robbie Laing is expecting a better showing from his speedy galloper Lord Of The Sky after drawing barrier three in the Group 3 $150,000 Race-Tech Australia Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Lord Of The Sky has drawn barrier three in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Laing has given Lord Of The Sky a short freshen up since he ran a disappointing seventh to Miss Promiscuity in the Group 3 $150,000 PFD Food Services Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 4.
Nothing went right the front running sprinter that day and after he dawdled out of the barriers was unable to reach the front and was caught wide for the majority of the race.
Laing is willing to forget the run and Lord Of The Sky should have no trouble racing in or near the near from gate three in the eleven horse Bletchingly Stakes field.
“We’ve freshened him up a bit since his disappointing first-up run (in the Monash Stakes),” Laing said.
“He’s had a good strong gallop on the grass, he ran three furlongs in 36 seconds on that heavy track.
“We’ll give him a pretty easy week from here on in and see how we go in the Bletchingly.”
Craig Newitt takes over from Damien Oliver on Saturday and while Lord Of The Sky is a five times winner at Caulfield, he has never won over 1200m course there.
Five year old Rich Jack with Darren Gauci in the saddle will no doubt test out Lord Of The Sky in the early stages of the race from gate four after he showed speed in leading all of the way over this course and distance at his last start in restricted grade on July 4.
Oliver will be riding Petrology for the Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig and the 2015 Spring Carnival candidate has drawn near the outside at gate ten.
The 2014 Sandown Guineas winner has had two jump outs in preparation for his return and co-trainer Tom Dabernig is happy with what he has shown on the tracks to date.
“He went well, his last 150 metres was quite solid,” Dabernig said of his last jump out.
“He had a nice spell, he had that time where we turned him out and gave him a good break, and he’s come back in really good order.”
2014 Group 1 Goodwood winner Smokin’ Joey had a very short break since winning the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 13 and will likely take up his usual position in the second half of the field from barrier nine.
Damian Browne rode Smokin’ Joey to victory in the Eye Liner Stakes but Chris Parnham is back in the saddle and looking to record another win on the seven year old after the pair combined to win the Group 3 $150,000 T S Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 14.
The Peter Moody trained Angels Beach looks set to get the run of the race from barrier one and punters are hoping Decircles (barrier 11) can run a better race after finishing seventh of eleven as favourite down the Flemington straight in the Listed $150,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 11.
