The 2015 Bletchingly Stakes nominations have been released and Lord Of The Sky is set to be given the chance to redeem himself after his flop in the race last year.
Lord Of The Sky has not recorded a race win since he took out the 2014 of the Sir John Monash Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lord Of The Sky started the 2014 Bletchingly Stakes as a dominant $1.40 favourite following his four lengths romp in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 26, but he was one of the first horses beaten and he has not been able to record a race win since.
The Danerich entire suffered disappointing defeats in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on December 26, the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1 and the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on January 17, but he returned to a semblance of his best form in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m at Caulfield on February 28 and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 14.
Lord Of The Sky produced the best performance of his career to date when he almost took out the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he proved that performance was no fluke in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16, but he suffered another defeat as a short-priced favourite in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 4.
Trainer Robbie Laing admits that Lord Of The Sky was disappointing in the Sir John Monash Stakes, but he revealed at the races on Saturday that he had given the four-year-old a freshen-up and is hopeful that he can produce an improved performance
“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.”
Lord Of The Sky could face up to ten rivals in the Bletchingly Stakes after 11 horses were included in the nominations for the Listed event.
Talented three-year-old Petrology has not been seen at the races since he failed to fire in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7, but he is set to make his return to racing in the Bletchingly Stakes, while Platinum Rocker could make his debut for the Hope stable.
Tara Cochrane-trained Jersey Whistler is set to make his black-type racing debut after he took out a benchmark 70 event at Moonee Valley on July 15 and Pilly’s Wish is also taking winning form into the Bletchingly Stakes following her narrow win in The Thurgood Family Plate (1200m) at Caulfield on July 4.
Peter Moody-trained Angels Beach, the consistent Inspector, Robbie Griffiths-trained Nadeem Lass, last start winner Rich Jack, Godolphin-owned Sanzio and promising filly Written Dash.
