Rising star Lucky Street has been labelled an odds on favourite as he prepared to return to the winner’s circle in the Listed $100,000 Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Lucky Street, who ran seventh to Buffering, above, in the Winterbottom Stakes, is the odds on favourite for the Miss Andretti Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Steve Hart.
Lucky Street was given a short freshen up by trainer Trevor Andrews after running seventh to Buffering in Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 21.
The three year old resumed with a close second to Sheidel in the Listed $100,000 Schweppes Summer Scorcher (1000m) at Ascot on January 2, Perth Cup Day, and Andrews feels the step up to 1100m on Saturday will suit him better.
“The 1100m and Sheildels not being there, it suits so it looks a nice race for him on paper,” Andrews told the Sportsman.
“He drew wide and was three and four deep the trip last start so he ran really well.”
Ladbrokes.com.au have installed Lucky Street the $1.65 favourite for the Miss Andretti Stakes ahead of the Simon Miller trained First Among Equals at $3.60 with top weight Rock Magic the next in the market order at $11.
Lucky Street has drawn barrier five in the eight horse field with Paul Harvey stripping down to his lightest riding weight for many years to ride at 54.5kg.
Harvey last rode at that weight when he partnered Fuddle Dee Doddle when fourth to Academus in the 2012 Group 2 $350,000 Sky Racing-W.A. Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
“It’s been hard work for Paul and 54.5 is about as light as he can ride,” Harvey’s racing manager Dale Verhagen told The West Australian.
“But he’s pretty fit at the moment, the fittest he’s been in about ten years. Obviously Lucky Street is a nice horse so he’s worth getting down for.”
After Saturday’s Miss Andretti Stakes, Andrews will then aim Lucky Street towards the $150,000 Magic Millions WA 3yo Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra on February 7.
And Andrews has a long range plan to give Lucky Street another shot at the Winterbottom Stakes in next Summer’s Perth Carnival after performing well against the open class sprinters last November.
“His run in the Winterbottom was very good, he copped a few bumps and over raced and never got into a nice rhythm,” Andrews said.
“He ran 1:08.5 himself so it was a super effort as he was a bit new and inexperienced against those horses.”
“He will be a bit more seasoned for the Winterbottom at the end of the year.”
Miss Andretti Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.65 Lucky Street, $3.60 First Among Equals, $11 Rock Magic, $13 Silverstream, $21 Dueton, Flytego, Ron’s Call, $67 Pininci.
