The James Cummings trained Savatiano is challenging pre-post favourite Mystic Journey for the top spot in the betting for the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.
Savatiano, above, is challenging for favourtism in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Adam Trinder trained Mystic Journey is holding onto favouritism on race morning and is still the top pick at $4.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au while Savatiano has had plenty of support, firming into $4.80, just ahead of West Australian star Arcadia Queen at $5.
Noted first up performer Savatiano is resuming and Mark Zahra will have no trouble finding a handy spot from barrier three in the eleven-horse P.B. Lawrence Stakes field.
“She missed her first-up run last week due to the heavy track, but she comes here in the same shape and with similar prospects,” Cummings said.
“She’s shown how explosive she can be first up and under the right track conditions she’ll get the chance to put that talent on show.”
Mystic Journey also has an impressive first up record of three wins from five attempts and Trinder said that last year’s P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner is ready to tackle the 1400m at her 2020 Spring Carnival pipe opener.
“She’s really well placed going ahead to her first-up assignment (on) Saturday,” Trinder told the Herald Sun.
“She’s really well placed moving ahead into the 1400m first-up, she’s as forward as what she was last year for this race, an event we were fortunate enough to win.
“She obviously will take improvement as she moves through the preparation but I think she’s going to go there and be really competitive and bounce out of the run and improve.”
“I expect that she’ll improve going into the Memsie Stakes and then beyond.
“It will be different training from afar, but it’s a unique situation.”
Trinder has decided to stay in Tasmania because of the COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria and has sent Mystical Journey to trainer Peter Moody’s stables at Pakenham to be prepared for the Spring.
“The decision with the dynamics of what were are faced with was quite easy. It’s the best placement for her,” Trinder said.
“There’s only about 300 horses at Pakenham and about 50 or 60 on track in an hour, so that’s what appealed.”
Billy Egan will partner Mystic Journey for the first time in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, replacing regular rider Anthony Darmanin.
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