Trainer Phillip Stokes admits that he has been frustrated by Éclair Big Bang this preparation and believes that the gelding will need everything to go his way to be any chance in the 2014 The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.
Eclair Big Bang is chasing his first race win since he scored an upset victory in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Éclair Big Bang started his autumn preparation with a narrow fourth behind Minaj in the Listed Redelva Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on April 12 and failed to make up much ground late when fourth behind Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes (1200m) last weekend.
The Savabeel gelding will jump from barrier 15 with Dom Tourneur on his back in The Goodwood on Saturday and Stokes told Racing Ahead that he was not particularly confident about his charges chances in the $500,000 race.
“Éclair Big Bang has been a bit frustrating this preparation,” Stokes said.
“He has got ability, but he has just been over racing at stages and has been caught wide.
“It is a tough race and he will probably need everything to go his way from that barrier.
“His work has always been good, it just hasn’t translated to the racetrack this preparation.”
Stokes remains a chance of having two runners in the 2014 The Goodwood field; with Lucky Symbol currently the second emergency.
Lucky Symbol started his racing career with three straight victories at Morphettville and at the end of last year before scoring a narrow win in the Woodside Park Stud at Bendigo on March 15.
The Magnus gelding stamped himself as a genuine contender at Group level with a narrow third in the Redelva Stakes, but failed to fire in the Euclase Stakes.
Stokes said that Lucky Symbol did not handle the going in the Euclase Stakes and believes that the three-year-old will return to his best form if he earns a start in the 2014 The Goodwood this weekend.
“Forget that he went around last Saturday, he just couldn’t go a yard in that going and it was always the concern because the Tuesday prior I didn’t think that he handled it,” Stokes said.
“Back on top of the ground and from that barrier he might be an each-way chance.”
Éclair Big Bang is currently available at The Goodwood odds of $26, while Lucky Symbol is available at the lucrative quote of $61.
