Trainer Scott Asprey is making long-term plans for Star Wars but he won’t be shocked if the strapping colt produces more immediate results, starting with the Black Opal Stakes on Sunday.
Star Wars heads into the Golden Slipper lead-up at Canberra with Asprey confident the youngster is a better prospect than his pre-post quote suggests.
The trainer scratched Star Wars from a Sydney race on Saturday to give the horse his chance at stakes level.
“The distance (1200m) is more suitable for the horse and he’s drawn ideally in barrier five,” Asprey said.
Star Wars is a Golden Slipper entry, a nomination Asprey says is based on potential rather than precociousness.
“He is a big gross colt who doesn’t really look like a two-year-old type due to his frame and stature,” Asprey said.
“But he has untapped ability hence the reason he is sort of heading towards the Golden Slipper, more so with a view towards the Sires’ and the Champagne,” Asprey said.
“I’m sure he’s going to be a very serious three-year-old and at this stage he is doing it on raw ability.”
Asprey gave Star Wars one chance to make the Magic Millions field in his first preparation.
The horse found trouble near the turn before he ran on strongly into the minor placing in a race at Canterbury.
It wasn’t enough to catapult Star Wars in the Millions field but it confirmed Asprey’s suspicions the colt has a genuine future.
Pre-post operators have listed Star Wars as a $16 chance with two other Sydney-trained two-year-olds Quartzite and Sidestep disputing favouritism.
Quartzite goes into the Opal after winning a barrier trial at Rosehill during the week.
He ran through the line strongly after waywardness cost him a winning race debut.
Sidestep will be trying to make it back-to-back Black Opal wins for Darley Australia, trainer Peter Snowden and jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
