Aurie’s Star Handicap winner Voodoo Lad could back up in this Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Voodoo Lad, above in red and yellow colours winning the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington, could back up in the B. P. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Voodoo Lad made it two wins from his last three starts with a last to first win down the Flemington straight in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) last Saturday and trainer Darren Weir is considering sending the seven year old around again this weekend.
“I wouldn’t be against backing him up next week in the Lawrence if he has a good week,” Weir told RSN 927’s Correct Weight on Sunday.
“I think the back-up for him would be great, but I’ll have to talk to the owner and make sure the horse does well during the week.
“They may not want to go that way.
“To get a Group 1 (after that) would be good for him, but I’m not sure which one (to aim him at).”
Damien Oliver settled Voodoo Lad ($4.60) at the tail of the seven horse Aurie’s Star Handicap field before switching the big bay back to the inside where he had clear space to chase the down the leader Home Of The Brave ($3.90 favourite) to record a solid three quarters of a length win over the Godolphin import.
Voodoo Lad is a Caulfield specialist with four wins and two seconds there from six starts which includes a handy second at Group 1 level in the 2016 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
Voodoo Lad failed to fire during the Autumn and his early Winter campaign with a tenth in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on followed by a fifteenth in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben but was quick to find the winner’s stall again when he returned to Caulfield.
The I Am Invincible gelding was happy to get back to Caulfield and produce his trade mark come from behind to win the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 14 before running second to The Everest bound Vega Magic in the Group 3 $150,000 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 28.
Voodoo Lad was one of four winners for Weir at Flemington last Saturday and was joined in the winner’s stall by Choisborder in the James Hibberd Handicap (1200m), The Statesman in the Darren Allsop Handicao (2000m) and Theanswermyfriend in the Damian Cubela Handicap (1400m).
