Trainer Mick Price is happy with the form of Le Bonsir, but admits that he can’t see the consistent sprinter beating Lord Of The Sky in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield tomorrow.
Le Bonsir has not scored a race win since he took out the Drummond Golf Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Le Bonsir has performed well throughout his winter campaign and finished second behind Lord Of The Sky in the Group 3 John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July, but has not recorded a race win since he took out the Listed Drummond Golf Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September last year.
Price told Racing Ahead that Le Bonsir is racing in his best form, but the leading Melbourne trainer believes that something would need to go amiss with Lord Of The Sky for the Choisir gelding to win the Bletchingly Stakes.
“I haven’t checked second prizemoney yet,” Price joked.
“We have a great bunch of people in it and they go to the races in a nice race.
“He is going to earn a good whack of prizemoney and if there is a chink in the armor of Lord Of The Sky, which there is probably not.
“He couldn’t beat Lord Of The Sky on everything that I have seen so far.
“He is at his top and his form is really good, but it can’t get much better unless something goes arrie with Lord Of The Sky.
“He is really good and he will run up to his best.”
There is expected to be plenty of speed in the early stages of the Bletchingly Stakes, with talented filly Thiamandi and last start winner Nearest To Pin expected to take up the running from Lord Of The Sky and Price said that he will be happy if Le Bonsir tracks the leaders into the race.
“We will probably get our spot just behind them and peel off and do our best from there, I guess,” Price said.
“We are there to win and we will do our best.”
Le Bonsir has been the best-backed runner in the 2014 Bletchingly Stakes betting market at Ladbrokes Australia and is into a quote of $6.50, but Lord Of The Sky remains a dominant favourite at $1.60.
Price is chasing his first win in the Bletchingly Stakes after finishing in the placings with Red Dazzler in 2006 and Velocitea in 2010.
