Co-trainer Craig Widdison has been pleased with the form and results posted by Star Rolling through recent weeks and is confident the horse is a competitive chance in Saturday’s Piping Lane Handicap (2000m) at Flemington Racecourse.
Star Rolling will contest Saturday’s Piping Lane Handicap at Flemington fifth-up. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Star Rolling clearly required a run when failing to beat a single runner home in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) first-up on November 14th but has since finished fourth in each of the Building Engineering Trophy (1400m), Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) and Swettenham Stud Championship Heat (1600m).
Having struggled with injury through his entire 22 race career so far, Widdison told Racing Ahead he is thrilled with the condition of the Casino Prince gelding and is confident he will produce a strong performance in the Piping Lane Handicap.
“Hopefully he can jump reasonably well and he’ll be up there somewhere,” Widdison said.
“This time in he’s been really good, there’s been no major issue and we’re always doing things with him to make sure he’s right and hopefully that continues.
“It’s probably not an easy race but I’m confident he will run well.”
Widdison conceded stepping the gelding back to a mile for his most recent run probably wasn’t ideal, but the race was a necessary point of call ahead of the Piping Lane Handicap.
“It probably wasn’t ideal going back to the 1600m but we sort of couldn’t go three weeks into the 2000m we didn’t think,” Widdison said.
“He’s come through that great and we haven’t had to do much with him this week.
“He’s drawn well and seems to be drawing well every run this time in and Dylan Dunn has ridden him before and rode him well, so it’s good.
“He gets in well at the weight and I’m really happy with him, so I’m sure he’ll run really well.”
Star Rolling has been a strong and largely consistent performer for Widdison and co-trainer Peter Morgan since first appearing on course competitively in 2012; posting five wins and two minors through 22 starts; highlighted by a strong win in the 2014 edition of the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
Star Rolling is currently available at Piping Lane Handicap odds of $11 for success with Ladbrokes.com.au.
