Apprentice Patrick Moloney is keen to maintain his perfect record on Lord Of The Sky when he reunites with the speedster in the Listed $120,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Apprentice Patrick Moloney will be back aboard Lord Of The Sky, above, in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moloney was aboard Lord Of The Sky when he recorded a six and a half lengths all the way win in restricted class over 1000m at Caulfield twelve months ago.
But the young jockey knows that it is not going to be a sit and steer job again taking on a strong Listed class field of sprinters over the 1400m.
“I think he’ll make his presence felt for a long way. It’s just whether he’ll run the 1400 out strongly,” Moloney told AAP.
“I’ve only had the one ride on him and he won by a big margin that day.”
Moloney is excited to get a recall, especially in a non-claiming Listed race and is looking forward to the challenge.
“Obviously getting back on him in a Listed race is a big thrill for an apprentice like myself,” Moloney said.
“I’m really excited and looking forward to it. He’s drawn a nice alley, he’s been really competitive at that level and I think this weather will help him with a bit of give in the track.”
While Lord Of The Sky’s five wins have been over 1000m (4 times) and 1100m (1 time), he has been in the prizemoney at his last two starts over 1200m, but will be stepping up to the 1400m for the first time but should be able to get his own way in front from barrier six.
The Robbie Laing trained sprinter resumed from a spell for a fourth as favourite with Vald Duric in the Listed $120,000 Emma Booth Christmas Cup (1000m) at Sandown on December 6.
Noel Callow then took over the reins at his next two outings which resulted in two seconds in the Listed $120,000 Jackie Loughlin Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on December 26 and the Group 3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1.
Lord Of The Sky has visited the winner’s stall on two occasions since Moloney scored on him in January last year with apprentice Kayla Nisbet winning a 1000m Handicap at Caulfield in May and Dwayne Dunn taking the sit for a four and half length all the way win in the Group 3 $135,000 Polytrack Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in July.
The Gerald Ryan trained Red Excitement opened up the $4.60 favourite for the Chester Manifold Stakes before firming to $4.40 with Ladbrokes.com.au with last start Sandown winner Tried And Tired the second pick at $5.
Topweight Reparations is next in the market order at $6 just ahead of Lord Of The Sky at $7 and South Australian galloper Boristar at $7.50.
