Mark Kavanagh is usually quick to work out where his horses are best suited but admits three-year-old Liveandletdie has been a frustration.
The Street Cry gelding showed all the hallmarks of being at least a middle distance galloper but his form is now suggesting he is best suited to sprints after an impressive win at Flemington on Monday.
“He’s been a frustrating little horse,” Kavanagh said.
“One minute we thought he was a 2000 metre horse and then we thought he was a miler.”
Ridden by Ben Melham, Liveandletdie was last most of the way in the Peter Armytage Handicap but he could not have been happier in the run, no longer racing in blinkers.
They had contributed his poor performance when he failed to beat a runner home in last month’s Group Two Yallambee Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville but with peripheral vision he was able to stretch out when he wanted.
In a couple of strides he had the field covered and got home a length ahead of That’s Not It and stablemate Set And Forget.
Liveandletdie has now won three of his nine starts, but never further than 1200 metres.
Kavanagh hopes he has worked out Liveandletdie who finished fifth to Hollowlea in the Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in the spring.
“He had a bit of experience on them today and had the last drop on them,” Kavanagh said.
“He just sat back and went to sleep and finished it off. ”
Kavanagh was also pleased with the effort of Bendigo winner Set And Forget who was having just his third race start.
“He was over racing and putting pressure on the leader (Eclair Flyer) and then got lost halfway down the straight.
“He is still a little bit green but I think he and the other horse (Liveandletdie) have both got a bit of promise,” Kavanagh said.
AAP TURF