Small Numbers Likely For Bletchingly

Smart colt Lord Of The Sky is likely to have a small band of rivals in Saturday's Group Three Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.

Lord Of The Sky won the Group Three Monash Stakes last time out and is one of eight early nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes.

The Robbie Laing-trained three-year-old will be out to become the first horse since Rubitano in 2002 to complete the weight-for-age winter sprint double of the Monash and Bletchingly Stakes.

Lord Of The Sky's latest win, his fifth from eight starts, took his handicapper's rating to 103, three points clear of the next best runner, the Peter Moody-trained Ready To Rip.

Ready To Rip won the 2012 edition of the Bletchingly Stakes after taking out that year's All Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington at his previous outing.

Ready To Rip was an acceptor for the Monash Stakes and All Victorian Sprint Series Final earlier this month but Moody had to scratch the gelding on the morning of both races.

"He's had a bit of a foot issue, similar to a foot abscess," Moody said.

"We've had him ready to go midweek but the problem has flared up on the morning of the races and we have had to scratch him.

"We're very happy with the way he's going at home but it's a matter of him being 100 per cent on race day."

Adelaide galloper Nearest To Pin will attempt to add the Bletchingly Stakes to his win in the All Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington on July 12.

Consistent Mick Price-trained sprinter Le Bonsir will attempt to reverse the result of his last meeting with Nearest To Pin in Saturday's $150,000 contest after he finished a half neck second at Flemington.