Lonrockstar’s apparent liking for straight-course racing at Flemington has boosted trainer John Sadler’s hopes he can make his mark in the All Victorian Sprint Series Final.
Lonrockstar claimed the fifth victory of his career but his first in open company when he got the better of Nadeem Lass and Hard Romp at in a straight-track sprint on June 27.
That 1100m race was a heat of the Sprint Series and a number of the same horses are set to do battle on Saturday in the Listed final over 1200m.
Lonrockstar is yet to race at stakes level but has earned his chance with his recent win and a luckless fifth at the same track the start before.
“I wouldn’t have thought he would be good enough to win a final, but it’s not a lot stronger than the race he won the other day,” Sadler said.
“The thing that does give me most confidence is that he’s only had two starts down the straight for his best win and in the other race he ran fifth but couldn’t get out.
“It seems like the straight suits him.”
Craig Williams won on Lonrockstar last start and retains the ride.
Adelaide sprinter Nearest To Pin is entered to attempt back-to-back victories in the event.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Hard Romp, who has won one of the heats at Flemington and been placed in two others, is also among the 15 nominations.
Nigel Blackiston has last year’s Toorak Handicap placegetter Desert Jeuney set to run having pleased the trainer with a first-up fourth under 60kg to Lonrockstar last Saturday week.
Desert Jeuney had a bone chip removed from a fetlock after last year’s Emirates Stakes and was to resume at Moonee Valley last month.
But he reared in the gates and was declared a non-runner because the attendant slipped and still had hold of the horse when the barriers opened.
Desert Jeuney instead lined up a week later and loomed to challenge 200m out before finishing fourth.
Blackiston plans to give Desert Jeuney a short freshen-up after Saturday to target feature races early in the new season before the tracks get too firm.
“It was nice to see him finish off the way he did first-up, he’ll improve from that fitness wise and hopefully he runs a cheeky race again,” Blackiston said.
“He’s always been a nice horse and was Group One placed last spring. Hopefully he can go better this year.”
