Lionel Cohen knows Aeronautical faces a daunting task in a star-studded Newmarket Handicap but the trainer is convinced it is worth having another shot at the $1 million race.
Aeronautical went within a short-head and a nose of winning the Newmarket in 2013 as an outsider and Cohen has kept this year’s edition at the forefront of autumn plans despite the sprinter being winless for almost 18 months.
Aeronautical
He will carry 52kg in Saturday’s race which features Lankan Rupee, Terravista and Chautauqua – three benchmark sprinters in Australian racing.
Cohen said Aeronautical had come through his Group Three placing at Flemington last Saturday unscathed and with a light weight in a small field, the Newmarket provides a temptation he can’t resist.
“It was always my intention to work towards the Newmarket and his runs have all had merit even though he hasn’t won,” Cohen said.
“He’s raced well and thrived in Melbourne, and he’s a racehorse. There’s no point sitting in the stable if I think he’s got a chance.
“I’m certainly not confident that we can trouble the fancied runners but racing is a strange game and it is a handicap.”
