3 minute read

Scott Lucock is content to claim underdog status for last-start Gr.3 Concorde Handicap winner Statham leading into Friday's Gr.1 Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

But while he says his sprinter doesn't have the ability to match the likes of Sacred Star and Natuzzi, he's not ruling out causing an upset either.

"We're the new boys coming to town," said Lucock, who trains in partnership with Sally Gillespie.

"I know he's not the best horse in the field but if we get the right trip and a couple of the others don't, they'll know he's there."

Statham secured a start in the Railway with a smart win over Irish Moon in the Concorde, then survived a protest from the runner-up for alleged interference with 300m to run.

While admitting his bias, Lucock felt the right decision was made and believed Statham's was easily the best performance out of the race.

"It was a pretty soft run in the Concorde and the horse has shown us since that it was a pretty soft run on him too," Lucock said.

"There's nothing out of the Concorde or the Newmarket Handicap from Boxing Day that we'd be worried about. The ones we respect most are Natuzzi and the two of [Tony] Pike's [Sacred Star and Allez Eagle]. They are the hardest ones to beat - and we are at a weight disadvantage against them."

Lucock and Gillespie have secured the services of Railway Stakes-winning jockey Mark Du Plessis to replace Concorde-winning apprentice Chris Dell and reported the jockey had been delighted with Statham's work from a trackwork gallop.

"The horse is flying. We're absolutely rapt with him," Lucock said, adding he was pleased with the draw of barrier seven.

"The more I look at the draw, the more I like it. If they go like hell for the first 600m, like we expect them to, then it could set up for a horse sitting back getting a sweet run to sprint home over the top of them - and that might be us if he's good enough.

"If they're not going hard, we have the option of going forward and hopefully leading them home. He's improved further since the Concorde and he's right on top of his game. He's not the best horse in the field but he thinks he's the best horse, so here's hoping."