Luckygray tunes up for Italian bonanza
Triple Group 1 winner Luckygray sent an ominous warning to his Del Basso Smallgoods Roma Cup rivals after an impressive trial win at Belmont Park yesterday.
In his return from a long spell, Luckygray settled fourth and ran on strongly under little pressure from jockey Shaun O'Donnell to beat Park Lane by two lengths.
The dual Railway Stakes champion was the only 1000m trial winner to break 60 seconds, registering a sharp 59.74.
The strong trial victory sets the stage for an epic clash between Luckygray and Northam Stakes winner Magnifisio in the $125,000 Roma Cup (1200m) on Saturday week.
Trainer Trevor Andrews was understandably upbeat about Luckygray's looming campaign.
"It was a good trial," Andrews said. "He's had a good, long break and he's still got a few gallops to go before the Roma Cup.
"He's come back stronger and Shaun is really happy with him."
Luckygray, who overcame the 58kg topweight to win his second Railway last November, thrashed his rivals in the 2012 Roma Cup when trained by Gino Poletti.
He also scored dominant wins in the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at his following two starts.
Andrews said the distance of the Roma Cup would be ideal for the six-year-old first-up.
"Magnifisio was impressive (at Northam)," Andrews said.
"She's got fitness on her side and he'll be softer than her.
"But I think the 1200 first-up will really suit him."
Andrews' top two-year-old Palace Intruder is back in work ahead of a cameo Belmont campaign.
An explosive winner of his first two starts at Ascot, Palace Intruder is likely to have one start before he is spelled again.
"He'll have a light prep and then go back out and get ready for the Guineas," Andrews said.
"He would have been out too long if he just spelled until the Guineas."
Luke's Luck, formerly prepared by Andrews, made his first appearance for trainer Simon Miller when running third behind Luckygray yesterday.
The former Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires' Produce Stakes winner is one of several gallopers raced by Craig Thompson that have been transferred to Miller.
Thompson's juvenile Chengdu, placed in the Perth Stakes (1100m) in March, is also now with Miller.
"He's had a good, long break … He's come back stronger and Shaun is really happy with him.""Luckygray's trainer *Trevor Andrews *
