Trainer Adam Durrant has revealed that he will be instructing jockey Damian Lane to ride Real Love aggressively in the 2015 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Damian Lane has been booked to ride Real Love in the 2015 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Real Love led from start to finish when she recorded the biggest win of her racing career to date in the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year’s Day, but missed the start and was settled towards the tail of the field in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 14.
The Desert King mare was allocated the outside barrier when the 2015 Peter Young Stakes field was released earlier in the week and Durrant told Racing Ahead that Lane has little choice but to put Real Love into the race.
“It is a little bit sticky that barrier, but I think that we will be positive,” Durrant said.
“She is a strong staying type and we won’t to leave something in the tank for the Australian Cup, but I can’t see us going back and letting things unfold in front of us.
“This time we will go forward, be positive and put her into the race.
“Hopefully she can put her best foot forward.”
Real Love was slow out of the gates in the Orr Stakes and was forced wide coming around the turn, but had little chance of making up any ground due to the slow tempo in the early stages of the race.
Durrant said that he was initially disappointed with the Orr Stakes performance of Real Love, but after further reflection he is far more positive about the run and is thrilled with the condition of the four-year-old heading into the Peter Young Stakes and the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
“On face value I was a fraction disappointed, but when you sit back and assess the sectional times there was no realistic way that she could have gone any quicker,” Durrant said.
“I am coming away from it really happy and I would like to think that she has improved going forward to the 1800.
“I thought that she would begin well, but from then on she was basically on the back foot and they just walked.
“When the sprint went on she just lost her way around Caulfield and the pleasing part of her race for a horse going forward was the last 50 to 100 metres and then through the line she was really strong.
“You couldn’t be happier going forward with a horse like her and her work on Tuesday was a good as she has ever produced.
“We are really pleased going forward.”
Real Love is currently available at 2015 Peter Young Stakes odds of $11 with Ladbrokes, while Protectionist ($3.80) remains a clear favourite from Happy Trails ($5.50), Spillway ($6.50) and Mourinho ($7).
