Trainer Edward Lynam has revealed that leading European sprinter Slade Power could run in the Haydock Sprint Cup on September 6 before heading to Australia for the 2014 Darley Classic.
Slade Power is set to meet Lankan Rupee in the Darley Classic during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Slade Power has not been seen at the races since he scored his second straight win at Group 1 level in the July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket on July 12 and Lynam told Sky Racing HQ that he will leave it to the horse to decide whether he runs in the Haydock Sprint Cup or goes into the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8, formerly known as the VRC Sprint Classic, without another race start.
“There is a chance,” Lynam said when asked if Slade Power will have another race start.
“He is entered for the Sprint at Haydock in three weeks and there is a chance that he may go for that race or he may not.
“We haven’t made any firm plans and he will tell us what he wants us to do with him.
“The main aim is the sprint at Flemington.”
Lynam confirmed earlier this year that Slade Power was guaranteed to come to Australia for a clash with Lankan Rupee in the Darley Classic before being retired to stand at stud and he revealed that regular jockey Wayne Lordan would also make the trip to Melbourne for the feature sprint event of the 2014 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
“Leigh Jordon has been very helpful with us and he has everything set in place for what we want to do,” Lynam said.
“I think that towards the end of September he will go and do two weeks quarantine in Newmarket and then he will head out to Australia then.
“He will be in quarantine over there and he will train away over there and we hope to do a trial with him at Flemington a week before the Cup.
“Wayne will ride him at Flemington.
“He is a very good jockey in Ireland and he is a very light-weight jockey.
“I think he actually rode in a Melbourne Cup back in the day for Aidan on a light weight and he is a very high class jockey.
“He has been a very lucky for me and he has ridden three Group 1 winners for me in the last three seasons.”
Slade Power will be having his first race start outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland since he finished tenth behind Lord Kanaloa in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 8.
