Speedy sprinter Lord Of The Sky will strip a lot fitter when he lines up in the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 30.
Lord Of The Sky, above, will strip much fitter when he lines up in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by
Lord Of The Sky was having his first start following a short break when he was third across the line before being relegated to fourth on protest in the Group 3 $150,000 Food Services Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 16.
The Robbie Laing trained Lord Of The Sky took up his familiar spot in front and after leading the field into the straight moved out slightly at the 200m hampering fourth across the line Atmospherical, resulting it that horse gaining third placing in the stewards’ room.
Laing said that the official form guide will show Lord Of The Sky finishing fourth in the Sir John Monash Stakes but in actually fact he was third across the line, a nose behind second placed Trevinder and one and three quarter lengths behind the winner Wild Rain.
“It says he’s now run fourth but in actual fact he was beaten an inch for second,” Laing told racing.com.
“He showed a tonne of pace, he was brave and more importantly he pulled up terrific.
“He definitely went there a run short – he looks a lot tighter and I’m very happy with him.
“I’m looking forward to the Bletchingly.”
Lord Of The Sky was having his first run back after running last of fourteen behind Griante in the Group 1 $700,000 Banjo Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 19 and Laing is anticipating the rising six year old will be returning to the form that saw him placed twice at Group 1 level during the 2015 Autumn Carnival.
Laing has been frustrated with Lord Of The Sky’s last two campaigns after he looked to have a promising sprinting career after finishing a nose second to champion sprinter Chautauqua in the 2015 Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Lord Of The Sky was then freshened up before running second to Flamberge in the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville six weeks later.
But his form fell by the way after that and he failed to run a place from his next four starts forcing Laing to change his training routine for the five year old.
“He ran some great races,’’ Laing said.
“Seconds in the Christmas Stakes and the Standish, a fourth in the Newmarket and then second to Chautauqua in the TJ. Smith Stakes and a second to Flamberge in The Goodwood.”
Lord Of The Sky has earned $918,000 from five wins and five seconds from twenty-three starts.
