A drop back to handicap class at Flemington could be the key to Star Rolling regaining winning form.
Co-trainer Craig Widdison says he and Peter Morgan have also tinkered with Star Rolling’s training regime, hopeful it will provide a spark at Flemington on Saturday.
Star Rolling is the $31 outsider in the Building Engineering Trophy and will be ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Dylan Dunn.
It will be the first time an apprentice has ridden the six-year-old in a 19-start career that has netted five wins.
Widdison said he and Morgan had adopted a slightly different training method to encourage an improved showing from Star Rolling who finished last in the Group Three Sandown Stakes under Stephen Baster.
“Steve thought there might have been something amiss with him and eased him down, but we haven’t been able to find anything,” Widdison said.
“He might be starting to have a lend of us a bit.
“We’ll run him over 1400 metres on Saturday with a claim and see how he goes and then he might have a little visit to the bullring and pop over a few jumps just to change him around and keep him interested.”
Star Rolling won the 2014 Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, but in seven runs since hasn’t finished closer than sixth.
All those races have been at black-type level including Group One races like the Underwood Stakes, Epsom Handicap and CF Orr Stakes.
On Saturday he reverts to handicap conditions and will carry 56kg after Dunn’s claim.
Star Rolling enjoyed a longer break than usual after failing to come up in the autumn and Widdison said now that he was a bit older he may need a little racing to strike top form.
“We gave him a good break because he had never really had one before,” Widdison said.
“We had gone to each carnival with him and maybe that could be the thing with him being a bit older he might need a run or two runs just to bring him up to the mark.
“There’s no issues with him physically.
“He’s had a little issue here and there with his muscles behind but they even seem great at the moment.”
