Trainer Robbie Laing is confident that Lord Of The Sky will be far better for his first-up run when he takes his position in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield; a race he convincingly won in 2016.

Lord Of The Sky jumped well in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) a fortnight ago and while appearing to be in the box seat when the field straightened, failed to produce anything of a turn of foot and faded to finish sixth of eight runners.

Confident that the horse has taken plenty of benefit from the hit-out, Laing told AAP that he should improve drastically into the Bletchingly Stakes, particularly if the Caulfield track falls into the ‘Soft’ range.

“He had a good blow after the race,” Laing said.

“It looked like he was keen, on the bridle, and quite a few people said he (Aaron Lynch) should have let him run.

“But from the 1000 (metres) to the 800 he ran 10.7 (seconds) then went 10.7 and 10.8, so it just shows how quick he can run if you were to let him run.

“He wouldn’t have wanted to have gone much quicker first-up as he would have capitulated before the 200 (metres).

“He had a lot of blood in his mouth and a lot of people thought he’d bled, so that wouldn’t have been all that comfortable for him.

“He had a relaxing few days after the race and got back into it on the Tuesday after.

“He’ll be fitter and a little bit of soft ground, being winter, wouldn’t hurt as that’s where he’s advantaged.

“He’ll run those super times on a wet track.”

Lord Of The Sky has posted six wins and a further five minors through his twenty-six career starts to date and is unlucky not to have posted a win at the highest level; having finished an agonizingly-close second in each of the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) most notably in 2015.

The 2017 Bletchingly Stakes field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.

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