Lord Of The Sky will have a trial down the Flemington straight before tackling the Group 3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m) on New Year’s Day.
The speedy four year old has failed to deliver at his last three starts after being sent out as a short priced favourite but trainer Robbie Laing still has faith in him.
Lord Of The Sky was resuming at Sandown on December 6 and after leading with 60kgs on his back, the $2.90 favourite was run down to finish fourth to Danger Close in the Listed $120,000 Emma Booth Christmas Cup (1000m).
Laing was willing to forgive Lord Of The Sky’s first up effort and is expecting him to take a great deal of benefit from the run condition wise.
“I just think under the conditions, I’m prepared to forgive him,” Laing said.
“He still ran well and he will take good benefit from it.”
Laing is happy with the way Lord Of The Sky has recovered from his first up run but is keen to give him another look at the Flemington straight after running second there at his only run down the straight behind Danger Close in a 1000m restricted race in April.
“He’s in good shape and he’s had one run down the straight and got a bit lost, that’s why I want to trial him before the Standish,” Laing told Racing Network.
“As long as I can get a trial into him down the straight ten or so days before the race, he’ll run in the Standish.”
All of Lord Of The Sky’s five wins have been at Caulfield and the Danerich stallion looked like he was heading for higher riches when he led all of the way to score a four and a half lengths win in the Group 3 $135,000 Polytrack Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) in July but has missed a place at his next three runs.
Lord Of The Sky has earned over $277,000 for his five wins and a second from eleven starts.