Trainer Paul Perry says the 59kg is a more significant factor than having to wait an extra week for Sky Lab’s tilt at the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The race was unable to be run at Rosehill last week so was added to the Randwick card. The field is similar though fresh nominations were taken and new barriers drawn.
There are pluses and minuses to having the delay with the planned second-up run but Perry said he’s been able to keep the gelding “ticking over well” so fitness won’t be an issue.
“It’s a similar field, I think he’s weighted right up to it,’’ he said.
“He always puts in, every run he’s put in, so I think you can be assured of that.
“The 2000m seems to be his ideal distance but I think the weight brings them back together.
“I don’t think the change makes a difference because he races well at Rosehill too, six of one and half dozen of the other I think.”
Perry said Sky Lab, already a winner of $1.4 million in prizemoney, may head for a break after he runs in the Lord Mayors Cup having secured Big Dance eligibility with his Scone Cup win last month.
The Newcastle trainer is wary that to be most effective in the $3 million Big Dance, run over 1600m on November 5, Sky Lab will likely need to be kept on the fresh side.
“He won’t have much more, maybe even after this one he will have a break,’’ he said.
“He’s sound as a bell, he’s been good, touch wood, that way.”
Sky Lab was $11 with TAB on Wednesday in the Lord Mayors Cup, and $15 in the Big Dance market.
Bakerloo was an upset winner at Randwick two weeks ago and Perry said she’s had the right set up to run out a strong mile in the Foundation Female Member Handicap (1600m).
The filly scored as a $21 chance over 1400m second-up and while she’s been unplaced in both runs over the longer trip, at the end of last preparation, Perry said she’s more seasoned now.
“She’s a nice honest filly and keeps improving. I thought she could win that day,’’ he said.
“Hopefully she can keep it up.
“She’s a bit older and a bit more mature so if she’s ever going to handle that sort of thing she should be able to do it now.”
Meanwhile, Perry has two runners in the Midway Handicap (1600m) and he said Olympic Gaze needs to go around having missed the run when his race was called off last week, and is probably not suited at the mile, while he expects Pandano to run a competitive race.
– Racing NSW
