Talented sprinter Lord Of The Sky will have the opportunity to score a maiden win at Group level at Caulfield on Saturday after being included in the 2014 Sir John Monash Stakes final field.
Lord Of The Sky returned to winning form in the Taralye Listen Learn Speak Handicap at his last start. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lord Of The Sky stamped himself as one of the fastest horses in Victoria after he ran blistering times in two barrier trials and two race starts during his summer campaign, but the Danerich colt was sent to the spelling paddock after he failed to beat a single runner home in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 1.
The three-year-old returned to the races in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on April 25 and was beaten as favourite, but was found to be suffering from respiratory issues after the race and he returned to winning form with a professional performance in the Taralye Listen Learn Speak Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield on May 17.
Lord Of The Sky has drawn ideally in barrier one for the Sir John Monash Stakes and he will be ridden by veteran jockey Dwayne Dunn for the first time.
Consistent sprinter Ready To Rip has performed fairly in four race starts since returning to the races in March and will have the chance to score his first win at Group level since he took out the 2012 edition of the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).
Ready To Rip (barrier six) was beaten by less than three and a half lengths in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10, but will need to improve on his performance in the Listed The Straight Six (1200m) to be any chance in the John Monash Stakes this weekend.
Riziz has followed a similar path to the Sir John Monash Stakes as Ready To Rip, finishing third in The Goodwood before failing to fire in The Straight Six, and will jump from barrier eight, while The Straight Six runner-up Le Bonsir has drawn ideally in barrier two.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2014 Sir John Monash Stakes field is talented sprinter African Pulse, who will be returning to the races for the first time since he was gelded at the end of his autumn campaign.
African Pulse (barrier seven) resumed with a credible fourth in the W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 1, but connections gave up hopes of a career at stud for the Johannesburg gelding after he did not perform in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Handicap (1000m) and Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m).
The John Monash Stakes field is rounded out by Damien Williams-trained Morant (barrier four), the resuming Mr Make Believe (barrier nine), veteran gelding Good Value (barrier five) and six-year-old mare Johannapine.
