The Danny O’Brien-trained Lopov will be freshened for staying races at the back end of the spring after passing his most serious distance test with flying colours at Caulfield.
O’Brien said the rising four-year-old son of Cox Plate winner Savabeel was possibly the toughest horse he had trained after he landed Saturday’s The Yalumba Masters (2412m).
He has won four of his 17 starts but with better luck at his last two runs his record may have been more impressive.
O’Brien’s wife Nina owns Lopov and was keen for a change of rider at Caulfield after the gelding finished third over 2000 metres at Caulfield on July 16 and fourth last week over 1700 metres at Flemington.
Glen Boss was the replacement jockey and he didn’t let her down, settling Lopov in third place and dashing him away in the straight to put the race beyond doubt.
Lopov scored by 2-1/4 lengths from Brungle Cry and Dell who made up a lot of ground from near last.
“He could have won the last three Saturdays in a row but Glen made it good thing today,” Danny O’Brien said.
“He was positive on him and got a lovely run throughout.”
O’Brien said Lopov, who won over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley on July 2, thrived in the stable environment and he wasn’t worried about him having his fourth run for the month.
“He is a very tough horse,” O’Brien said.
“I don’t think I have ever trained a tougher one. He just takes whatever you give him.
“Every time you run him he gets better.
“We really wanted to see him at a mile and a half (2400m) at the end of the prep and he not only travelled well, he sprinted home at the end which is a good sign.
“There is not much around for him now so we will give him a freshen up.
“There are a lot of staying races over the spring and they thin out towards the back end so we will look at that.”
AAP TURF
