Lakey Eyeing Weather With Risk Aversion
- Thursday, 01 September 2011 03:15
Trainer Michael Lakey hopes to know whether Risk Aversion is the real deal when she faces a quantum leap in class at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Lakey scratched Risk Aversion from a midweek Class 3 race at Eagle Farm on Wednesday because of a heavy track and he's now hoping the current slow (6) or better will prevail for the four-year-old in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m).
"This is a lot harder race than Wednesday," Lakey said.
"I've only flicked through the field but it looks very competitive but it should give us a good guide where we'll go with her.
"She's on the minimum with 53 kilos but she'll carry 1.5 kilos less with Tim Bell's claim so she's in the race very well at the weights."
Lakey admits Risk Aversions's chances of going round are in the lap of the gods with possible showers forecast for Friday.
"I'll be happy to start her on a slow track but I doubt she'll run if it's heavy again," he said.
"This is a bit of a test case for her.
"It's a small field but she'll only have 51.5 kilos so she should be very competitive."
Lakey and her connections are keen to give Risk Aversion her chance in next year's Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
However, Lakey is unlikely to be tempted to send Risk Aversion interstate this spring and is content to achieve black type on home soil before considering a Sydney trip.
"We're hoping she'll measure up to the Listed fillies and mares races here for the time being but she needs to get some prize money to get into these black-type races coming up."
Lakey said Risk Aversion had trained on well since the mare's impressive comeback victory at Doomben on August 10.
"She's come through the race really well," he said.
Risk Aversion has started only three times and looked capable of scoring in much better company after successfully stepping up from a maiden win at Eagle Farm in April to a Class 4 at Doomben last month.
"She's been placed on a heavy track but I'd rather see the weather improve," Lakey said.
"She's only light and I haven't done that much with her since she won first-up."
Risk Aversion is owned by Gold Coast businessman John Hutchins whose former star Typhoon Tracy won the Coolmore Classic in 2009.
Hutchins is hopeful Risk Aversion, a daughter of Encosta De Lago, can follow a family tradition to win in Group company.
Her half-sister Shania Dane was placed at Group One level while her half-brother Scintillation won three Group One races in Hong Kong.
