Almost a year to the day since his win in Perth’s Group One Railway Stakes, Port Lockroy will head to Kembla Grange seeking his first victory since then in the $1 million Gong.
While the five-year-old hasn’t placed in nine subsequent runs, he was beaten less than 1-1/2 lengths in the Doncaster Mile, and co-trainer Annabel Archibald believes there is a case to be forgiving of some of his spring efforts.
“He has been carrying the same weights as weight-for-age, Group One winners for winning a Perth, Group One handicap,” Archibald said.
“Life has been tough for him since then and this is probably the first time he gets in well at the weights, albeit he is drawn fifteen.”
Carting 59kg when eighth to Vivy Air in the Five Diamonds (1800m) last start, Port Lockroy drops to 54kg in the Gong (1600m) and gets the addition of blinkers for the first time in the hope they can help spark a form revival.
Although Port Lockroy is still an entire, Archibald says that has been more by accident than design and their focus is on racetrack performance.
“He is very quiet, to the point where we almost forgot to geld him as a three-year-old and that’s why he came back as an entire as a four-year-old,” she said.
“He hadn’t really done enough at that point to warrant remaining a colt, and then of course, he won the Group One.
“We’re just treating him as a racehorse. He is a lovely natured horse. He is like an old gelding.”
Stablemate Tuned wasn’t so fortunate, but the proof was in the pudding first-up when he made his debut as a gelding with a strong win at Rosehill.
He will bid to repeat the dose in Saturday’s ABAX Civil Handicap (1200m) and long-term, connections hope he can get back to stakes level.
“Unlike Port Lockroy, who doesn’t really look like a bull, he did,” Archibald said.
“He needed gelding. He was getting too heavy and I’m glad we did it because it was a nice win the other day and he had plenty of improvement to come.
“I’d like to think we’ll get an improved run again at the weekend.”
