Trainer Lionel Cohen is looking towards Aeronautical’s upcoming campaign with a mix of hope and caution.
The three-year-old, who showed a dazzling turn of foot to win The Rosebud in the winter, will resume in Saturday’s Hall Chadwick Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.
Cohen decided against kicking him off in last week’s Canterbury Classic because he felt he was poorly weighted.
He said Saturday’s race was more suitable despite the fact he would be taking on seasoned campaigners.
“I expect a big run. The question mark for him is how the three-year-olds fare up against the older horses,” Cohen said.
“That’s the only thing that’s hard but then, if he is Group One material, you expect them to perform well.
“Barrier eight of ten, we have to work out what we do because that obviously plays a role. He’s never had a good barrier.”
The other wildcard for Aeronautical is new jockey Corey Brown.
Brown replaces Nathan Berry who has ridden Aeronautical in four of his six starts.
Cohen said Berry’s dumping was not personal and he simply wanted to try something different.
“I just wanted a change,” he said.
“I want to see him a bit closer to the pace, things like that.
“Besides (Brown’s) experience, the fact he’s an older jockey, it was nothing personal.”
Aeronautical was among first nominations for the Doncaster Mile released this week and Cohen has races like the Australian and Randwick Guineas (1600m) at the back of his mind.
But there are also memories of the gelding’s two attempts at Group level and the fact he is yet to win beyond 1200 metres.
Aeronautical finished last in Manawanui’s Group One Golden Rose (1400m) and again failed to beat a rival home in the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) won by Foxwedge, albeit finishing less than two lengths in arrears of the winner.
Prior to those runs, Aeronautical’s star was on the rise.
He posted back-to-back wins at Randwick in the winter and while it was off-season form, the performances were impressive.
For Cohen, the jury is still out.
“In my mind I’m hoping, but while his last two runs were good they weren’t good enough. I’ve got that in the back of my mind,” he said.
AAP TURF
