Trainer David Pfieffer has confirmed that the 2015 Missile Stakes is an option for Lord Leofric after he elected to include the in-form sprinter in the nominations for the Group 2 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Tye Angland steered Lord Leofric to victory in two of his three race starts this preparation. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Lord Leofric was originally included in the nominations for the Benchmark 79 Handicap that will be held over 1200 metres at the same venue this weekend, but Pfieffer told Sky Racing HQ that Lord Leofric may be worthy of an opportunity in a race like the Missile Stakes after recording three wins from as many race starts this weekend.
“The horse is in good form,” Pfieffer said.
“He is yet to win a Saturday race yet, but he has won three on the trot this time in and they were all of the metropolitan status.
“When the nominations were a bit light for the Missile I thought it was worth throwing a nom in to see where we stand, but we still have him entered for the benchmark 80 there at Randwick on Saturday.”
Lord Leofric started his winter campaign with a narrow win over Capitano at Warwick Farm on June 3 and he flew home late from the tail of the field to take out the TAB.Com.Au Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on June 24 in impressive fashion.
The War Pass entire was able to handle a heavy track to beat Orujo in the Cal Rei Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on July 22 and Pfieffer believes that the five-year-old will have taken plenty of benefit out of the run.
“He was five weeks between runs going into that meeting and on the day the track was very wet and very boggy,” Pfieffer said.
“I felt like you had to have a race fit horse to get through those conditions and I think now that 1100 might be a touch too short for him and he is going to be looking for 1200.
“The 1200 at Randwick is hopefully going to suit and the part we have to decide on is what race he goes in.
“When you have a horse racing good, sometimes you have to up the ante and see where they are at.”
Lord Leofric is set to take on the likes of Weary, Messene, Burbero, See The World, Liberty’s Choice, Royal Descent, Temple Of Boom, Le Bonsir, Shiraz and Boss Lane if he is included in the 2015 Missile Stakes field that will be released this afternoon.
