Popular gelding Luckygray will have an opportunity to add another Group 1 victory to his racing resume when he competes in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.

Luckygray will attempt to record his first victory in Melbourne in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Luckygray raced a bit keenly first-up in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday but fought home to finish sixth and indicate that he is looking for a bit more ground.

Trainer Robert Smerdon told Racing Victoria that he was satisfied with the six-year-olds effort and believes he is well place to be a contender in the recently upgraded Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

“He hadn’t done a heck of a lot of fast work and I think that showed,” Smerdon said.

“He over raced a bit and then he peaked on his run with the 60 kilos on the soft conditions.

“He got beaten a bit over two lengths and I think on balance that was reasonable.

“He’s now got three weeks before he goes to the Memsie and the step up to the 1400 is a more suitable distance that will give us a better line on where he is at.”

Luckygray finished a disappointing eleventh behind Sincero in the 2012 Memsie Stakes but bounced back to his best form when he returned to Perth with victories in the Group 2 Steere Stakes (1400m) in November and the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in December.

The son of Bradbury’s Luck is now based at Smerdon’s stable in Caulfield, moving from the care of Gino Poletti, but is still searching for his first victory in Melbourne and has achieved all his best results in Perth.

Luckygray has an impressive record of twelve wins from sixteen starts in Perth and is undefeated at Belmont Park while in Melbourne he is yet to run a place, after five starts, with his best result a fourth place finish behind Second Effort in the 2012 Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).