Paul Perry hopes Sky Lab is the horse to give him his dream race
Trailblazing trainer Paul Perry has expressed his desire to win a Cox Plate and he hopes that his smart four-year-old Sky Lab is the horse to chase the dream with.
Perry rewrote racing history books in 2003 when he and his star sprinter Choisir ventured to England and won the King‘s Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Aside from that achievement, he’s won almost 3000 races and 11 Australian Group 1s including the 2005 Golden Slipper with Stratum, the Lightning Stakes in 2003 and 2005 with Choisir and Fastnet Rock and Oakleigh Plates in 1999 and 2005 with Dantelah and Fastnet Rock.
But there’s one race on the Australian calendar that that the Novocastrian wants more than any other.
The race I’d love to win is the Cox Plate,” Perry said. “It’s the race that’s something special for every horse.
“I don’t know if Sky Lab’s a Cox Plate horse or not but if he is he’ll get his chance.
“It’s a bloody good and special race. It’s a spectacle and a real experience.
“It’s a great race.”
The son of Japanese stallion Real Impact took giant strides through the grades during the autumn, progressing from a Wyong Benchmark 64 win to a close second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas before racing below expectations as second favourite in the Australian Derby.
He makes his first public appearance as a four-year-old on Monday when he contests a 1000 metre barrier trial at Wyong on Monday.
Paul Perry.Source:News Corp Australia
“He’s been great up to date, happy with how he’s coming up,” Perry said. “He helps you get out of bed in the mornings.
“He’s looks to have come back nice.
“This Covid situation makes things a bit tricky when it comes to putting plans in place.
“Right now we’re focused on Monday’s trial and then we’ll go from there. We will just see how he comes up.
“All the races tend to flow into each other during the spring, there’s plenty of different paths you can take.
“He’ll be nominated for everything he’s eligible for and we’ll just see what we can and can’t do with things like Covid and where it takes up.
“We’ll go all in, even a race like the Melbourne Cup and see where he progresses to.
“He’ll tell us.”
Meanwhile, Perry also nominated a horse he believes can make good progression during the spring – Saquon.
Another new season four-year-old, the son of Nay Nay Never (USA) has won three of his seven starts, including his last two as a three-year-old at the provincials at Wyong on both occasions.
“I think he’s got a bit of a future,” he said. “He’s one that can keep working through the grades.
“He trials on Monday too and I’ve got a bit of time for him.”
Originally published asThe Cox Plate is the race trailblazer dreams of winning
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