Larry’s Never Late will run at Caulfield on Saturday before he heads north to continue a campaign ultimately aimed at the Brisbane Cup.
Trainer Jim Conlan decided to run Larry’s Never Late under topweight of 61kg in the Gayle Shacklock Handicap (1800m) with Mark Zahra in the saddle.
He had also nominated the six-year-old for Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill but decided against travelling him to Sydney and did not accept for the Listed event.
“The 61kg is a lot of weight for him to carry and he’s in need of one more run to get him back to his peak, but he’s going great at the moment,” Conlan said.
The gelding has had two runs so far this preparation including a pleasing first-up fourth to Outlandish Lad in the Listed Night Sprint (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 16.
That was followed by a strong finishing third behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained pair of Western Symbol and Herculian Prince in the Listed JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 21.
“I was really pleased with his performance. He was ready to run over a mile (1600m) the week before but the track was a bit firm for him so I waited and I knew we were going to go into that race a little underdone,” Conlan said.
“He loomed up to win the race but Gai’s horses were in front of him and you have to be rock-hard fit to get past them and he wasn’t.
“He’s improved off that run and I’d say there’s still improvement to come.”
Conlan said Larry’s Never Late, the 2010 Launceston Cup (2400m) winner when prepared by Rod Douglas, would go to Brisbane for the Group Three Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 26.
He will then contest the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Two years ago, Larry’s Never Late finished third in the Premier’s Cup and fifth in the Brisbane Cup.
He was transferred to Conlan for his following preparation and won the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) first-up on a heavy track.
Larry’s Never Late didn’t race again that preparation and hasn’t managed to win in five outings since but he has had to overcome leg issues this campaign.
The winner of seven of his 33 starts and earner of over $575,000 in stakes, Larry’s Never Late faces nine rivals on Saturday including the in-form Darren Weir-trained Magnifique Soleil who has won five of his six starts this preparation.
After winning over 1400m at Warrnambool and Flemington last month he completed a hat-trick in the City of Warrnambool Handicap (1700m) on May 1.
