Cranbourne trainer Julius Sandhu has taken the advice of jockey Craig Newitt in electing to start Lofty Strike in a stakes race at Sandown.
The Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on Saturday will see Lofty Strike tackle older sprinters as he prepares for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 25.
Sandhu was originally thinking of running Lofty Strike first-up in the Oakleigh Plate, but after a jump-out at Cranbourne on January 30, and a conversation with Newitt, the trainer had a change of heart.
And Sandhu was able to confirm the decision following a gallop at Sandown on Tuesday morning.
“He’s come to hand a little quicker than I thought he would,” Sandhu said.
“My original plan was I thought I would be going to the Oakleigh Plate first-up, but the way he has come through his last two or three weeks, I’ve had a change of mind.
“I put him in a jump-out and he came through it enormously and Froggy said to me I’m not sure he needs another one (jump-out) the way he went, and this gallop has topped him off.
“So, we’ll take the race instead of a second jump-out.”
Lofty Strike won his first two starts as a two-year-old before being ruled out of last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes when Racing Victoria’s vets ruled the colt lame.
Returning in the spring, Lofty Strike had three starts, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and a length off the winner Roch ‘N’ Horse in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 5.
Sandhu said Lofty Strike had strengthen since his spring campaign and was a more powerful animal.
Importantly too for Sandhu it has been an interruption free preparation.
Sandhu took the opportunity of taking Lofty Strike to Sandown to give him a look at the downhill run from the chute and the uphill run home.
“I just wanted to give him that chance to gallop up that hill more than anything else,” Sandhu said.
“He’s a really sensible, mentally strong horse, so he lapped that up and enjoyed the work.
“I took him to Caulfield last prep, and it was the same scenario, so it was always going to be a benefit for him to come out and have a bit of a look.
“Everything has gone like clockwork. Froggy was very happy with him.
“He pulled-up super and we kick on.”
