The Astrologist has continued his affinity with the Flemington straight track by taking out the Aurie’s Star Handicap.
Saturday’s Group 3 sprint was The Astrologist’s third win in as many starts on the Flemington straight and was punctuated with a narrow third in the Listed Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 24.
Stalking the speed under Damien Thornton. The Astrologist ($6) defeated Romancer ($31) by a length with Too Good Too Hard ($11) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
The Astrologist has continued to show improvement through the campaign and appreciated the drop to handicap conditions on Saturday following his last start effort at weight-for-age.
Now the Leon and Troy Corstens stable hope to stretch The Astrologist out to 1400m and give the son of Zoustar the opportunity of contesting Group 1 company.
Stable representative Dom Sutton said the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 18 was a potential target for the five-year-old.
“He’s a winner at 1400m already so we’ll map out a plan in the next few days I’d say,” Sutton said.
“It was another terrific effort from the horse. He hasn’t put a foot wrong this preparation, he’s absolutely flying at the moment.
“The plan was to get him to the Stradbroke and just nothing went right for him up there so we brought him back and the horse hasn’t missed a beat since he’s been back.”
Thornton has a good association with The Astrologist who is fast becoming a new star for the rider.
He said The Astrologist, despite his long campaign, was going as well as ever.
“You can only keep raising the bar and he’s still performing,” Thornton said.
“He measured up to weight-for-age last start and only got beaten three-quarters-of-a-length behind some decent horses.
“They’ve mentioned the Rupert Clarke, so it’s probably worth having a crack at.
“He’s going super.”
