 In form Melbourne jockey Stephen Baster can claim
yet another feature race for the New Year period when he teams up with last start stakes
winner Let's Planet in the $75,000 Barton Stakes at Sandown tomorrow.
Last start Baster was at his best and the pair
combined to take the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington, comfortably holding out
Chattanooga.
There is still a big weight difference between
the two gallopers, despite Chattanooga meeting his last start conqueror a kilo and a half
on better terms in the Barton.
A member of the Michael Moroney stable, Let's
Planet could be aimed at a race like the Group One Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide if he
continues to make the grade in races like this in Melbourne.
 The five-year-old gelding, a winner of nine races
from 26 starts, has drawn awkwardly in barrier nine, the extreme outside, for tomorrow.
Moroney predicted the horse would be on the
pace, but not necessarily lead. That role is expected to be assumed by Corvain, who is
backing up after an all the way win over Fappiano's Son at Caulfield on Saturday.
Baster will be hoping his great recent form,
which has seen him take the Rubiton Stakes, Christmas Stakes and Standish Handicap in
recent weeks, can continue.
Meanwhile, trainer Mick Price has said that
Chattanooga is in great shape and will be hard to beat.
"He can certainly win, there's no doubt
about that," Price said on Sport 927 this morning.
Price said the gelding was used to lugging big
weights and was expecting him to be charging home over the concluding stages of the
Melbourne feature race.
Noel Callow will again partner the Price
trained five-year-old, who will be looking to break the $400,000 stake money barrier with
a win at Sandown.
The last time Chattanooga was at Sandown he
produced a sizzling finish to down the speedy Libidinious in the listed Kevin Heffernan
Sprint on Sandown Classic Day.
PICS - Quentin Lang |
