Trainer Luke Fernie believes spacing Stormchaser’s runs will give the talented five-year-old his best chance of landing a feature win in Saturday’s Listed Belmont Newmarket (1200m).
Stormchaser won impressively first up this preparation and returns after a two-month freshen up, having last raced finishing fourth behind Luvnwar at Pinjarra in May.
“He’s come back bigger and better and looks like he’ll run a nice race,” Fernie said on Tabradio.
“The only thing I query with him is that he goes really well fresh and when we’ve taken him to the races second up, he doesn’t quite perform as well as we’d hope.
“I think that comes down to he puts so much into his first up runs and if we can stretch his runs apart, which is the plan going forward, he’s a pretty smart sprinter.
“I do feel like he’ll end up in a lot of good races if we can make sure and get the knack of keeping him fresh and on top of his game.
“We’ll space his runs apart and find as many nice races as we can that fits into a good schedule.”
Fernie has mapped out a bold path for Stormchaser, with the inaugural $1 million Golden Saddle (1200m) slot race in Kalgoorlie firmly in his sights if the gelding can breakthrough at Belmont on the weekend.
The son of Impending will have his fourth attempt at black-type level in the Belmont Newmarket following promising placings in the Lee Steere Classic (1400m) and the Breeders’ Classic (1208m).
Fernie, who commenced his racing journey in Kalgoorlie, said going back to his roots and winning a major race on the goldfields calendar would be special, but first, Stormchaser has to prove his worthy of an opportunity.
“That’s the way we are planning but he has to overcome the race this Saturday,” Fernie said.
“He has won a handful of races, but they haven’t been as strong as company as he will face on the weekend.
“He’ll need to step up and show us that, but hopefully that does eventuate, and we do get to Kalgoorlie.
“I do have a good opinion of him.”
Fernie will have two bites at winning the Belmont Newmarket with Stormchaser joined by stable mate, Man Crush, who is looking to bounce back after a disappointing return in the Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Bunbury two weeks ago.
Fernie is confident he has two runners that can make an impact in the Belmont Newmarket but says punters shouldn’t overlook Man Crush despite his disappointing last start performance when unplaced behind Wind And The Lion.
“Put a line through his last start,” Fernie said.
“He didn’t feel comfortable at any stage on the track at Bunbury.
“I wouldn’t read too much into that start.”
Stormchaser, drawn wide in barrier 11, will carry the 54kg minimum with Chris Parnham aboard.
Man Crush jumps from gate five under Clint Johnston-Porter, carrying equal topweight of 59kg.
Stormchaser is a $5 chance with Tabtouch while Man Crush is currently rated at $13.
Wind And The Lion, a winner of the Bolton Sprint two weeks ago, is the $2.80 favourite.
Meanwhile, Fernie confirmed that his smart chestnut colt, Just Too Fly, had been sold to eastern states buyers.
Just Too Fly won the Group 3 Sires’ (1400m) in May, a fortnight after finishing runner-up to Talkanco in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
Julio Santarelli