Co-trainer Peter Morgan has revealed that Star Rolling is a chance of contesting the 2014 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick on October 4.
Star Rolling started his spring campaign with a tough win in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) was the early 2014 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Star Rolling, but Morgan elected to set the Casino Prince gelding for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) after he resumed with a first-up win in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16.
Star Rolling was unable to replicate that performance in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 and finished a disappointing sixth, which now has Morgan considering a new plan involving the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) for the five-year-old.
“We might end up in Sydney in two weeks-time for the Epsom,” Morgan told TVN.
“The tracks are wet up there and he does handle wet tracks very well and he seems well in at the weights for the Epsom too.”
Star Rolling has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) that will be run at Caulfield this weekend and Morgan confirmed this morning that the five-year-old would take his place in the $400,000 race.
The veteran trainer said that Star Rolling worked strongly at Caulfield this morning and he is confident that the P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner will produce an improved performance in the Underwood Stakes.
“I’m very happy with him,” Morgan said.
“He worked really well, ran good time and he always runs well here.
“We’re very happy with the way he is – he’s tightened-up a bit since his last run.”
Star Rolling will be having just his second start at Group 1 level in the Underwood Stakes after performing consistently at black type level for the last 12 months.
The promising gelding scored his maiden win at Listed level when he took out the Penang Trophy (1800m) at Morphettville in September last year, but he was unable to earn a start in races like the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Star Rolling started his autumn preparation with a fifth place finish in the Listed John Dillion Stakes (1400m) and finished in the placings in both the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) and Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), but was sent to the spelling paddock after failing to fire in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
Star Rolling is currently available at 2014 Epsom Handicap odds of $21 with Ladbrokes Australia.
