Aeronautical’s trainer Lionel Cohen believes boom sprinter Deep Field will have to work harder than he has in the past when he takes on a classy field in the Lightning Stakes.
Unbeaten in three starts, Deep Field has won his races by a combined 20 lengths and set an 1100m record at Canterbury last month.
He will carry the limit weight of 54kg in Saturday’s 1100m Listed race at Randwick while Aeronautical has 59kg.
“Deep Field is obviously a good horse but the pace will be on and he won’t have things his own way,” Cohen said.
“It will be a test for him.
“I’m very happy with my horse even though he is giving weight to most of the others.”
Group One placed in the 2013 Newmarket Handicap, Aeronautical was given a mandatory three-month ban after he bled when fourth in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May.
Cohen said the six-year-old had shown no adverse signs during his latest preparation.
“It’s been trouble free with no issues,” he said.
“He has had a good foundation. My plan is to give him two starts this preparation – the Lightning and then the Yellowglen down the straight at Flemington on Derby day.”
Aeronautical will be ridden by veteran Jeff Lloyd who has been working with him since he returned to Cohen’s Rosehill stable.
“Jeff works him six days a week and has a good relationship with him,” Cohen said.
There were 16 entries taken on Monday for the Lightning headed by the Les Bridge-trained Avoid Lightning, the winner of nine of her 12 starts.
The mare has 59.5kg in the Lightning which is a quality handicap but just 56kg in the Group Three Nivison (1200m) on the same program against her own sex.
