The Annabel and Rob Archibald team will resort to Plan B with Nellie Leylax when the imported galloper runs at Moonee Valley.
Nellie Leylax is a dual acceptor at both The Valley and Randwick on Saturday, but circumstances mean the gelding will stay in Melbourne to run in the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m).
The gelding is also an acceptor in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday but is sixth emergency for that contest.
Annabel Archibald said the conditions in Sydney, with the Randwick track rated a Heavy 9, would have been ideal for Nellie Leylax.
“I was hoping to send him to Sydney because he absolutely loves bottomless ground, but he’s sixth emergency, so he’ll stay here,” Archibald said.
“His form has been consistent, but all his form in Europe has been on bottomless ground, so if we can get him on that sort of ground, he’s vastly superior.
“But being sixth emergency in Sydney, you can’t wait to Saturday morning to make that call as he’s stabled here.
“He’s got a light weight on Saturday and if he can roll along up on the pace, I’d like to think he’s the type of horse that will suit The Valley.”
Nellie Leylax had five wins in the UK before making his way to Australia and joining the Archibald’s and has performed consistently in his four outings for the stable.
After three runs in Sydney, Nellie Leylax found himself at Flemington for his most recent outing, finishing fourth to Sayedaty Sadaty, an opponent again on Saturday, over 2000m on July 19.
“He’s a horse that races up on speed,” Archibald said.
“He’s a genuine, tough, one-paced horse that we thought would be good to try The Valley with.
“I thought his run was good last start at Flemington. He was coming again on the line.
“It’s his first preparation here, having come from overseas, and he looks a nice horse.”
Stablemate I Am The Empire will join Nellie Leylax at The Valley when he runs in the Donnellans The Tyreman Handicap (2500m).
I Am The Empire registered his sixth career win from 34 starts with a tough all-the-way win over 2400m at Sandown on July 30.
“He’s hard to catch but when he’s on song like that, he’s a nice genuine horse,” Archibald said.
