Australian Bloodstock import Loveisili has been given the benefit of the doubt, and the chance to put his Newcastle Cup campaign back on track at Rosehill.
The five-year-old strung together three wins in May and June but his sequence came to a halt when he struggled into sixth behind Dr Drill at Randwick last month.
That race was his first in six weeks and trainer Kris Lees is hoping it was simply a case of the horse needing the match practice.
“That’s what we’re putting it down to but if he failed again he’d go to the paddock,” Lees said.
“I’ve added a tongue tie to his gear and I can’t fault his work, he just needs to bring it to the races.”
Loveisili will line up in Saturday’s Bankstown Sports Club Handicap (2000m) against a handy field that includes promising David Payne-trained stayer Costello and the Chris Waller-trained Matowi who backs up from an impressive win at Randwick last weekend.
Provided Loveisili performs to expectations, Lees will look to aim him at his hometown Cup at Newcastle next month.
“That would be the plan if he returned to form,” Lees said.
A win by Loveisili would continue the great run of success being enjoyed by syndicators Australian Bloodstock who recently won a Group One race in Germany with the Cox Plate-bound Danceteria.
