The departure of stable star Karuta Queen has left a void but trainer Neville Layt is looking to the future with optimism, starting at Rosehill on Saturday.
Layt, who trains at Queanbeyan near Canberra, will saddle up One More Grand in the Alpha Flight Services Handicap (1200m).
The four-year-old will be having his third run back from a spell and Layt expects him to be close to his peak.
“If he’s ready to win it’s now, so now is the time to bring him to Sydney,” Layt said.
One More Grand resumed with a solid third at Canberra under 60.5kg when he ran on from the tail and again made ground when sixth at Gosford last start.
An on-pace runner earlier in his career, Layt said the gelding was more settled this campaign although his newfound racing pattern was discovered by accident.
“He missed the kick at Canberra and was last into the straight but he let down really well and ran third,” Layt said.
“At Gosford I said to Sam (Clipperton), `you’ve got a bad barrier, ride him for luck’ and he hit the line very strongly again.
“Maybe with a bit of maturity now he can sit back and get home and hit the line. That’s how we’ll be riding him.”
One More Grand has been a handy galloper for connections winning five of his 26 starts and almost $170,000 prizemoney.
Former stablemate Karuta Queen was in a different league winning six of her 15 starts and more than $1.7 million.
However the three-year-old won’t be returning to Layt’s stable after being sold to high profile businessman John Singleton at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May.
Karuta Queen may race on for a different trainer before retiring to Singleton’s Strawberry Hills Stud.
While the loss of his stable star hit hard, Layt says he has a nice team of younger horses coming through including Red Excitement.
A Canberra winner, the youngster was sixth to Pierro in the Breeders Plate and is back in work for a spring preparation.
AAP TURF mc/m
