Motspur might be rising nine but Kris Lees sees no signs that the ageing sprinter is slowing down.
In fact, the Newcastle-based trainer believes 2010/11 has been arguably Motspur’s best and hopes the gelding can end his season in style with an upset win at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
“Over his career he’s had about three six-month spells due to a few shoulder injuries,” Lees said.
“There were a few times we thought that might be the end of him but probably in some ways having those long breaks has contributed to his longevity.
“I think this season has probably been close to his best.”
Motspur takes on boom sprinter Rain Affair in the At Sea Handicap (1200m) with apprentice Blake Spriggs called in to offset his 59kg impost.
Spriggs has ridden Motspur on five occasions for two wins but hasn’t been on his back in a race for almost 18 months.
“He’s a big, strong horse that can carry weight but with the two-kilo claim it just makes him a bit better off against some of the opposition,” Lees said.
“Blake has ridden him before and had some success as well.”
Motspur scored a first-up win coming off a frantic tempo at Scone on May 13 in a race which included Group One winner Atomic Force and stakeswinning Border Rebel.
The son of Flying Spur then finished 10th in the Group Two QTC Cup in Brisbane and has placed third in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes and Ramornie Handicap at his past two starts.
Lees expects another honest showing from Motspur but is understandably worried about the talents of Rain Affair as the Joe Pride-trained rising four-year-old aims for his sixth win from just seven starts.
Rain Affair returned from a let-up and streeted his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths at Rosehill on July 2 over 1100m.
“He looks a really top horse in the making,” Lees said of Rain Affair.
“He’s going to make our task quite difficult, but I do think our bloke’s best wins have been when he comes off the back of a hot speed.
“Rain Affair does look a Group horse in the making though, so we might be coming up against a real up-and-comer.”
Motspur started favourite in the Listed Ramornie (1200m), won by the Peter Snowden-trained Jerezana who produced a withering finish at Grafton last Wednesday.
Lees said Motspur had done well since he returned from Grafton.
“It’s a bit quicker than I would normally run him again but there is not a great deal of options for him as we’re coming into the better-class races again now,” Lees said.
“He may have this run and then have a little freshen up and come back a bit later in the year.”
Motspur came up with barrier nine when a final field of 10 was declared on Wednesday with Rain Affair to jump from the outside with Corey Brown aboard.
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