The Regal Roller Stakes will be run without two well-performed entries after consistent sprinter Inn Keeper joined Group Two winner Rich Charm as a withdrawal from the Listed race.
Trainer Udyta Clarke scratched Rich Charm on Thursday while the Symon Wilde-trained Inn Keeper was taken out on Friday to instead run in Saturday’s Group Three Spring Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.
It leaves a field of nine for Saturday’s 1200m Regal Roller at Caulfield headlined by talented Godolphin-owned gelding Osborne Bulls who resumes from a spell and was the $3.10 favourite on race eve.
Trainer James Cummings has indicated next month’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) is a target for Osborne Bulls and that Group One handicap at Caulfield is also an aim for the Darren Weir-trained Land Of Plenty who returns in the Regal Roller.
Land Of Plenty won three of his five starts last preparation for Weir culminating in the Group Three R A Lee Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide in May.
The five-year-old will be given the chance to emulate former Weir-trained horses Trust In A Gust and Stratum Star who won the Sir Rupert Clarke in 2014 and 2015 respectively, while Trust In A Gust also won the 2014 Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m).
“He’s going well,” Weir told RSN927.
“He’s a bit burly looking so he’s going to improve with the run tomorrow and the plan is to go into the Rupert Clarke third-up.
“Everything is headed towards the Rupert Clarke and the Toorak.”
Weir also won the 2015 Toorak with Lucky Hussler and the 2017 edition with Tosen Stardom.
Last year’s Regal Roller proved a good form race with Vega Magic beating Brave Smash and Santa Ana Lane.
Santa Ana Lane went on to win the Rupert Clarke two starts later.
Vega Magic will have a gallop between the first and second race on Saturday’s program with Damien Oliver aboard as he continues preparations for a defence of the Group One Memsie Stakes on September 1.
