Exalted Lad Looking for Luck
- Thursday, 06 March 2003 00:00
The stable has endured a three-month run of city placings - 19 in total - but has been unable to cross the line in first place since Damn Straight saluted at Victoria Park in November.
Exalted Lad has been resonsible for some of those placings, including finishing runner-up in both the Listed C.S. Hayes Memorial Stakes behind Terminus Prince (pictured) and the Group 3 Tokyo City Cup behind Si Senor.
"Since Melbourne Cup day I've lost count of the number of city placings," Smith said. "It's been very frustrating. Tne horses are running well but we just seem to be finding trouble everywhere we go."
"Exalted Lad was wide for the trip last start and circled the entire field to be beaten a neck in a Group race last start. He's been knocking on the door at his last few but just needs a break to get back into the winners circle."
Exalted Lad has drawn wide at his last two start but hasn't fared any better on Saturday, drawing barrier eight in the 10-horse field. He will be ridden by leading South Australian apprentice Matthew Neilson.
Stablemate Brave Decision has drawn the rails for the race and is almost certain to lead the field - but not as he did last week when bolting well clear of the field mid-race.
"He's not an easy horse to ride and he was fired up," Smith said. "He took off on the apprentice and folded up in the straight. He's on his way to the Broken Hill Cup later this month and needs another run before heading up there."
Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)
