Epsom Handicap runner-up Fully Lit is on a mission to go one better in this year’s renewal, and he will take his first step towards that goal when he resumes at Rosehill.
The Tulloch Lodge gelding was scratched from last Saturday’s Missile Stakes (1200m) in preference for the 1400m of this weekend’s Racing And Sports Handicap, and while co-trainer Adrian Bott isn’t anticipating a winning return, he is hopeful of seeing some positive signs in Fully Lit’s first outing since the spring.
“We held him over from last week. We just felt the 1200 first-up in that grade was going to be a bit sharp for him off the long layoff,” Bott said.
“He’d had a decent build up to that point with three trials, and probably lost a bit of that sharpness, so 1400 should suit him better.
“In saying that, he should still need racing. It wasn’t until deep into his ‘prep’ last time that we saw him hit a bit of form.
“He’s here of a long layoff so he’s going to need a bit of racing to get him up and going again.”
The winner of the Inglis Millennium (1100m) at two, Fully Lit spent a year on the sidelines after his midfield finish in the 2024 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Returning in May last year, he took six runs to return to the winner’s circle then performed admirably in some strong races, placing in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and beating all but Autumn Glow in the Epsom Handicap.
While he didn’t feature in the Golden Eagle, it became apparent shortly after that he had a genuine excuse.
“He had a knee chip out after the Golden Eagle. I’d say that explains that run,” Bott said.
“We want to see him back to form over these next three runs or so heading towards an Epsom, and if things are going well, we can head towards that.”
Fully Lit will have 11 rivals at Rosehill, headed by 2025 Spring Champion Stakes winner Attica who is having his first start as a gelding.
