Trainer Robbie Laing is confident a rejuvenated Lord Of The Sky will be tough to beat when he returns to competition in Saturday’s featured Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield Racecourse.
Robbie Laing is pleased with Lord Of The Sky ahead of the Sir John Monash Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lord Of The Sky has produced a number of standout performances and results for close to $1 million in prize money so far, but his recent career has been plagued largely by injury and inconsistency; seen most recently in a hapless two start autumn preparation.
The Danerich entire was particularly impressive when trialling in May, and Laing is thrilled with the five-year-old’s condition leading into the Sir John Monash Stakes.
“Hopefully we’ll see the one that’s won nearly $1 million!” Laing told Racing Ahead.
“He cops plenty of flack the horse but I sort of take that like a compliment because in Australia, you cop a lot of flack if you’re good.
“We’ve tried to look after the tendon that went on him in the Bletchingly last year. Over summer we did a hell of a lot of work on the treadmill with him to control him.
“We ran him in a trial six or seven weeks ago and it really was the Lord Of The Sky of old – he won by eight and went two seconds quicker than any other trial and that’s the sort of horse that puts them away when he’s on song.
“We’ve given him three weeks off and it’s all roads heading to the Sir John Monash.”
Lord Of The Sky won the Sir John Monash Stakes in impressive fashion in 2014, but Laing concedes the horse might not be as sharp two years on.
“He’s almost a five-year-old entire now so you just wonder if they’re as genuine as two years ago, but he looks magnificent, you know he has the ability and healthy-wise he seems fine,” he said.
“One thing with him; you sort of know your fate pretty early in the race. He either jumps and runs them ragged or misses the kick and is never a chance.
“Even if he doesn’t win another race for us, he’s been a fantastic horse to us.”
Lord Of The Sky has posted five wins and as many minors through twenty-two career starts, since his debut during the winter of 2013.
Ladbrokes Australia is currently offering Lord Of The Sky at 2016 Sir John Monash Stakes odds of $7.
