Brad Widdup has been on weather watch for Lovani, and so far the outlook has been less than promising.
The trainer is keen to run the mare on Saturday in a bid to secure a coveted black-type victory, but the lack of rain in Sydney and Brisbane is problematic.
“Ideally I’m trying to get a wet track but it’s the driest 12 months I’ve ever seen,” Widdup said.
“I could keep her ticking over. She’s fit now, but with stayers you can’t keep leaving them for weeks and weeks without running them.”
Lovani last raced in the Group Three Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben on May 12 when she was runner-up to Anton En Avant.
She routinely has a fortnight or so between runs so Widdup has her nominated for the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Randwick and the Group Three Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben.
If she does not run this weekend Widdup says the next viable target is the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 16.
Lovani has three wins and two placings from 11 starts on good tracks and two wnis andtwo seconds on soft or heavy.
She has had six starts for Widdup after being transferred from the now-disqualified Robert Smerdon in Victoria.
“She’s been pulling up good (on good tracks). There’s no real issue with her. It’s just I feel she’s definitely finds that little bit more on a wet track,” Widdup said.
He said Lovani worked well on Tuesday morning and travelled well last tiem she went to Brisbane where rrain is forecast on Saturday.
If she heads north again, Widdup will be hoping she has better luck than Chauffeur who was a victim of interference in Saturday’s JRA Plate at Doomben.
Brad Stewart was subsequently charged with reckless riding on Unlikely Story and suspended for a month after causing the problems encountered by Chauffeur and the Chris Munce-trained Champ Elect who sustained a leg injury.
“I’m amazed he didn’t go through the fence,” Widdup said.
Chauffeur will trial in about three weeks before racing again.
