Under The Louvre is set to contest the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday and trainer Robert Smerdon believes that luck in running will dictate the chances of the talented sprinter in the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Under The Louvre has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Under The Louvre has only recorded one race win in his last seven starts, but he has been a consistent performer at group level and he was only narrowly denied victories in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28, the Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) at Caulfield on April 18 and the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 12.
Smerdon admits that Under The Louvre’s fast-finishing racing style means that everything has to go his way to record a race win, but he is hopeful that the Excellent Art entire can draw a Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes barrier draw that will give him the chance to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
“Barriers will play a big part,” Smerdon told AAP.
“This is one place where you need a lot of luck.
“You hope it’s a high pressure race which will suit him, and with Charmed Harmony in it, they should be running along.
“Last time he went to come out underneath a horse but there wasn’t quite the room and he had to steady, come back out and that was enough
“An on-pacer makes his own luck, a backmarker has to have things unfold.”
Under The Louvre is set to have his third start at Group 1 level in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes – after previously finishing in the placings in the Oakleigh Plate and the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16 – and he will carry 55.5 kilograms in the $400,000 race.
Williams Reid Stakes winner Lucky Hussler has been allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms by Racing Victoria Handicappers from two-time Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour (56.5kg), consistent mare Catkins (56kg), Archie Alexander-trained Amorino (56kg), the out of form Leebaz (56kg) and Chris Waller-trained Strawberry Boy (56kg).
Smerdon is chasing his first win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes after previously missing the placings with Luckygray (sixth behind Rebel Dane in 2013) and Chemin De Fer (fourth behind Poetic King in 1994), while jockey Mark Zahra has missed the placings in his five rides in the race.
