Mark Newnham is remaining upbeat about the chances of Lord Olympus in the Takeover Target Stakes despite the horse drawing wide for the second time in a week.
Plan A had been a trip to Wagga for Thursday’s $200,000 Town Plate (1200m) but when he landed barrier 21, Newnham opted to instead head to the Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on Saturday.
Lord Olympus didn’t fare significantly better there, drawing gate 12 in the field of 16, but with a bit of luck Newnham can still make a case for him being a fighting chance.
“He needs a bit of luck at Gosford, he would have needed a lot of luck at Wagga,” Newnham said.
“He needs to run this week and he is going well.
“I could see him being a chance to win at Gosford. He doesn’t mind wet ground and generally there will be a few scratchings if the track comes up heavy, which it is likely to.
“Gosford, running on up the middle of the track, you can do when it’s wet.”
Lord Olympus settled last and hit the line strongly when fourth to Andermatt on resumption at Randwick and after riding him in trackwork this week, Newnham is confident he is ready to run well.
Adding fuel to the trainer’s theory is the horse’s effectiveness second-up, one of the driving factors behind his appearance in stakes company this weekend.
“I don’t want to waste the run,” Newnham quipped.
Lord Olympus will be ridden by apprentice Tom Sherry and was a $16 chance with TAB fixed odds on Friday.
Gravina was an easing favourite at $4.80 while several runners have been backed at odds including Southern Lad ($13 into $7) and The Face ($51 into $23).
