WITH a swag of wins in easier races that have made him feel like “Hercules”, Illustrious Lad is well placed to live up to his formline of the “weight” horse in Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap, according to trainer Peter Gelagotis.
Illustrious Lad was beaten less than a length in the Black Caviar Lightning and now meets those that finished in front of him 2.5kg-4kg better.
ANALYSIS: NEWMARKET HANDICAP
The Lightning was the first Group 1 tilt for Illustrious Lad, after picking the eyes out of lesser races up to Group 2 level throughout 2016.
“I had opportunities to place him extremely well and he won so emphatically it gave the horse great confidence,” Gelagotis said. “All of a sudden he thinks ‘I can beat anything’. It’s amazing when you are confident how clearer things become.
Illustrious Lad could be the surprise packet in the Newmarket Handicap. Picture: Michael KleinSource:News Corp Australia
“The horse thinks he’s Hercules, then you put him in better races and he’s winning.”
Illustrious Lad was an emphatic winner of the Group 2 Tab.com.au Stakes in October, where he clocked superior time to what Flying Artie did in beating Star Turn and Extreme Choice in the Coolmore Stakes on the same day.
“After he won on Derby day, (the Newmarket) was absolutely the aim,” Gelagotis said. “His pet scenario is Flemington 1200m. It’s a handicap, we’re down in the weights again, it all jells and reads right.
“I expected him to run well in the Lightning, (but) as it panned out, after the late scratchings, we were out there doing the work and carting them up.
“What appealed to me is that he stuck on gamely and he came back at them. He meets all those horses in front of him better off (Saturday). If handicaps don’t lie and that horse runs equal to what he did in the Lightning, he’s a damn good chance.”
Trainer Peter Gelagotis will give Mourinho another crack at the Australian Cup on Saturday. Picture: Colleen PetchSource:News Corp Australia
Gelagotis and his brother Manny are noted for the passion they bring to feature races, as illustrated by the celebrations they have enjoyed with their warhorse Mourinho in the past few years.
Mourinho has another crack at the Australian Cup on Saturday in what is likely to be his farewell campaign. ‘‘We don’t want to see the fun end,’’ Gelagotis said. ‘‘He’s been out for 11 months and he’s just starting to get his eye in. He ran a cracker last start and he’s really come on in leaps and bounds since.’’
Originally published as Weight’s right for Lad to strike
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