Trainer Matt Laurie is on a learning curve with stable newcomer Rialya as he prepares for the Zipping Classic at Sandown.
The 2012 Adelaide Cup winner, Rialya has gone winless since taking out the Tatt’s Cup at Eagle Farm in June last year.
Rialya – Joe Bowditch
Rialya was formerly prepared in Adelaide by border-hopping trainer Lloyd Kennewell but has been with Laurie for his past two starts.
Laurie was disappointed with Rialya’s debut performance for the stable in the Hamilton Cup on October 26 when he raced handy and weakened before a better showing in the Kyneton Cup on November 5 when he made some late ground.
The trainer acknowledged the Group Two Zipping Classic was another rise in grade.
“This is a strong race but obviously he’s been a pretty good horse in the past and he can stay,” Laurie said.
“We’ll ride him quiet again and see if he can run on strongly at the finish.”
A change in Rialya’s training routine produced a better performance at Kyneton and Laurie is banking on those adjustments leading to further improvement on Saturday.
The horse has been to the beach a couple of times and his workload has also been shortened.
Laurie also noted that Rialya had wanted to charge along which also required a change.
“I haven’t watched too many of his other races but he certainly took charge at Hamilton and was plain late and that’s why we decided to change it up a bit at Kyneton,” he said.
Chad Schofield will ride Rialya on Saturday and if the gelding performs well he could back up in the Ballarat Cup (2200m) on Saturday week.
Stablemate Escado runs in the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) after finishing sixth in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington last Saturday.
“He visited the beach today and will probably go there tomorrow and again on Friday,” Laurie said.
“He’s where he needs to be and if he can run up to what he did the other day I’m sure he’ll be a big chance.”
