Trainer Chris Waller is confident that tough gelding Foreteller is forward enough to be competitive in the 2014 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Foreteller and Puissance De Lune will renew acquaintances in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Foreteller has not recorded a first-up victory since he took out the Prix De Suresnes (1800m) at Maisons-Laffitte in France in April of 2010, but he has been far from disgraced at the start of his last three preparations.
The Dansili gelding was not asked to do a great deal in two barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick in the lead-up to his return to racing, but Waller believes that the Dansili gelding is ready to run well in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes this weekend.
“He resumed last preparation in Melbourne on a 40 degree day on a hard track and he ran a credible fourth of six in the Orr Stakes at Group 1 level,” Waller said.
“This race is probably a touch easy.
“He doesn’t like a wet track, so I hope for his sake that it is on the dead side.
“He hasn’t shown me much in his work or trials, but gee under race conditions he improves.
“If he gets a dead track he will be competitive.
“The float ride down would have tightened him up and he will be ready to go.”
Foreteller was sent to the spelling paddock after he failed to beat home a single runner in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and apart from a close third in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 8, the seven-year-old was slightly disappointing during his autumn preparation.
Waller is yet to decide what path that Foreteller will follow during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he will be hoping that his stable stalwart can return to the form he displayed when he was one of the most consistent weight-for-age performers last spring.
Foreteller upset Puissance De Lune, who he will meet again in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, to take out the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and he scored another Group 1 placing when he was second behind glamour mare Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
Waller made the late decision to run Foreteller in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley and the decisions paid dividends when he worked home strongly to finish fourth, but he was unable to replicate that performance in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and was never able to get into the race.
Foreteller is currently available at 2014 P.B. Lawrence Stakes odds of $7 at Ladbrokes Australia, while Puissance De Lune ($3.30) remains a narrow favourite from Lidari ($5) and Star Rolling ($6.50).
