A trip to Moonee Valley for a morning gallop will determine whether Stretan Angel takes her place in a Group 1 race at that track.
Stretan Angel is scheduled to run in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, but only if she pleases both trainer Phillip Stokes and jockey Lachlan Neindorf in a gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.
The daughter of Harry Angel has yet to race at The Valley and Stokes is concerned with how the mare will navigate the course.
Stokes pointed out how effective Stretan Angel has been down the straight at Flemington with five of the mare’s past six starts being there, her past two at Group 1 level, finishing second in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and third in the Newmarket Handicap.
Stokes ruled out a trip to Sydney for the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday after Stretan Angel showed she was not as effective that direction when unplaced in the Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick last spring.
Stretan Angel’s only victory around a corner came at Morphettville at her second race start in two-year-old company, although she did finish second to Benedetta in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at that track last May.
“We think she will run on Saturday, but she’ll head there on Tuesday morning and we’ll see how she goes,” Stokes said.
“She hasn’t been there before, and she loves Flemington, so I’m not sure how she’ll go, so I want to give her a look.
“I didn’t want to travel her to Sydney. I’m not that convinced she’s goes that well that way, so this is the next logical race.”
Stokes said he was rapt with the mare’s form this time in and that she just needed some luck to go her way to win one of these big races.
He said he would be guided by Neindorf, who has ridden the mare in both starts this campaign, as to whether Stretan Angel takes her place on Saturday.
A trip to Adelaide for two Group 1 contests is still on the drawing board for Stretan Angel if the mare takes her place on Saturday.
Stokes said the Sangster Stakes (1200m) on April 26 and The Goodwood (1200m) two weeks later, both at Morphettville, would be considered, although a start between Saturday and the Sangster was unlikely.
“She’s had a couple of runs now, so if we run Saturday, we might give her a jump-out and go into the Sangster fresh,” Stokes said.
