Lightly raced Meursault has been left to represent Godolphin in the Group 3 $125,000 Synergy FX Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick following the scratching of stablemate Kumaon.

Meursault will represent Godolphin in the Up And Coming Stakes.. Photo by Steve Hart.

Kumaon was expected to be withdrawn after Randwick was rated a heavy 9 with Godolphin Racing Manager Jason Walsh indicating on Racing Ahead on Friday that the Lonhro colt would be an unlikely runner in the three year old feature.

“He worked with Earthquake on Tuesday morning and stuck right with her, but again he was in good form in the autumn in the Sires and he really disappointed on a heavy track,” Walsh said.

“If the track stays in that kind of range he would be unlikely.”

Godolphin head trainer John O’Shea admits that he is keen to see Meursault race and learn more about the Medaglia D’Oro colt’s racing pattern.

Meursault has only been to the races once when he led all of the way to record a comfortable three lengths win when under the care of previous trained Peter Snowden in the $125,000 Evergreen Turf Claret Stakes (1300m) at Hawkesbury on May 3.

“It’s a learning pattern and gives us opportunity to ride him a bit quieter,” O’Shea told Racing HQ Saturday.

“There looks to be an abundance of speed in the race and we just want to learn a little bit about him. Whether his capable in the ground and whether he is as effective if you ride him a bit quieter.”

“He has only had one run and we don’t want to designate him as a horse that has to lead all of the time. We just want to learn a little bit about him and take the opportunity in this race with good speed.”

“He had the trial at the farm (Agnes Banks). He is not a horse that jumps out of the ground, he is a quality animal and only does what he has to do and hence that is why he races in blinkers and that is why Peter (Snowden) put the blinkers on him straight away.”

“Pete would rarely do that with a two year old.”

The Peter Moody trained Better Land has been well supported in the Up And Coming Stakes and is the $3 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Meursault and last start winner Scissor Kick who share the next line of betting at $5.50.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Liberation is next in the market order at $6 ahead of Shooting To Win and Valentia at $13.