Under The Louvre has finished at the tail of the field in a Cranbourne barrier trial but trainer Robert Smerdon is happy with the Stradbroke Handicap winner in the early stages of his preparation.
Under The Louvre hasn’t raced since taking out Brisbane’s premier race at Eagle Farm in June.
Smerdon has pencilled in the Heath Stakes at Caulfield on August 27 for the six-year-old’s return but says he will need another barrier trial after Monday’s effort to get him ready.
“Today was more about being a day out for him, an adrenalin rush, getting on the float and getting a bit of competition around him,” Smerdon said.
“Ben Thompson had a positive report on him but the ground was a bit testing.
“He’ll come back here in a fortnight and have a more solid trial and then probably resume the Saturday after in The Heath Stakes.”
Smerdon said Under The Louvre’s Stradbroke would push him higher in the weights for handicaps and no program has yet been mapped out.
“We’re open minded with him,” Smerdon said.
“We’re thinking of maybe having a crack at the Manikato if he’s going good enough, but we haven’t locked into anything just yet.”
