A Change Of Plans For Scales Of Justice
13 November, 2018
Thoroughbred
T
THOROUGHBRED
Group 1 champion Scales Of Justice will be a surprise entry in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Lindsey Smith-trained six-year-old will back up after he made his long awaited return in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) on the weekend.
After a year-long absence following back surgery that seriously threatened to end his career, Scales Of Justice ran 2 ½ lengths fifth to Gatting.
Smith said the Colonel Reeves Stakes will round out Scales Of Justice’s preparation as he bids for a second Railway Stakes (1600m) in a fortnight.
“It’s about putting some more life back into his legs,” Smith told Tabradio.
“We will use the race to keep his fitness where it needs to be.
“I will try and get him back to when he first trialled first-up this time.
“I think that was the best I had him for a while.
“A few other have done it, Glory Hunter came back from the Railway to win a Winterbottom.
“It’s my go too and can be used if I’ve made a mistake and made them a little leg weary.
“I may have overdone it getting him ready for the Railway.”
Meanwhile Smith says stable mate Prize Catch will target the Perth Cup (2400m) after he posted a career-best win and overcame a distance query in the Listed Ascot Gold Cup (1800m).
“He was a good win and I always thought he would run a little bit further, but when I tried to push him out his form deteriorated,’ Smith said.
“But we train him a lot different now and he gets a lot lighter work.
“He will go to a 2100m race (Tattersall’s Cup) in a couple of weeks and if he runs it he will go to the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) and if he looks like running a mile and a half he will go to the Perth Cup (2400m).”
Julio Santarelli