Returning to racing in competitive form this time in, trainer Robbie Laing has revealed classy four-year-old Lord Of The Sky is no certainty to line up for Saturday’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at suffering a suspected insect attack on Monday evening.
Robbie Laing has revealed Lord Of The Sky is no certainty to contest the Group 2 Australia Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Running fourth in the Listed Christmas Cup (1000m) first-up on December 6th, Lord Of The Sky was unlucky to finish a close second in each of the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) before fading late in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) last weekend to finish seventh.
Conceding he would have also preferred another week’s preparation with the Danerich entire following last weekend’s appearance in Sydney, the Cranbourne-based trainer said Lord Of The Sky appears unlikely to line up for the Australia Stakes.
“He must have had a bull ant walk across his back because he’s been bitten about 10 times right down his back,” Laing told TVN.
“I couldn’t put a saddle on him this morning so he’s very doubtful for Saturday.
“Ideally I would have liked another week for him to get over his trip to Sydney, but I’ll see how he works on Thursday morning and make a call after that, but I’ll accept and see how he is.”
Finishing outside the places only a handful of times in his relatively short career so far, Lord Of The Sky stamped his claims as one to watch in taking each his first two races over the 2013/14 summer but was disappointing in his maiden black type appearance when failing to beat a single runner home in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) on February 1st.
A standout for Laing over the 2014 winter, the stallion out of Princess Abassi ran second in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap (1000m) first-up before claiming back-to-back victories in the Listen Learn Speak Handicap (1000m) and Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m); returning to the paddock following fourth place finishes in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m).
Whether or not he chooses to field Lord Of The Sky in the Australia Stakes, Laing remains set to be represented in the Moonee Valley feature by three-year-old Boomwaa and Audino.
