A Missile Stakes start for Tiger Tees is all but out of the equation as trainer Joe Pride looks to Melbourne for the Group One winner’s return to racing.
Pride is favouring the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington over the Group Two weight-for-age sprint in Sydney on the basis Randwick might be too firm for Tiger Tees to produce his best form.
And while there is no certainty Tiger Tees will have the right conditions in Melbourne, Pride said the sprinter would be paid up for the Aurie’s Star, a race with a rich history of launching successful spring campaigns.
“I’ll be accepting with him in the Aurie’s Star on Wednesday and then having a look from there,” Pride said.
Closing in on $1 million in earnings, Tiger Tees will be first-up since finishing down the course in the BTC Cup at Doomben in May.
The below-par run was his only blemish in an autumn campaign that reached its high point on a rain-affected track when the veteran defeated Victorian filly Anatina in the Group One Galaxy at Rosehill during the Golden Slipper carnival.
Pride, who prepared Rain Affair to win the Missile Stakes in 2011 and 2013, will be left with an outside shot at a third win in the race when Laser Hawk makes his debut for the trainer’s expanding stable.
Laser Hawk has been off the scene since ending up near the tail of the field in last year’s George Ryder Stakes.
In his second long-term spell since winning the 2012 Rosehill Guineas for trainer Gai Waterhouse, Laser Hawk was sidelined after the Ryder because of a tendon issue.
Now a six-year-old, Laser Hawk has been to the barrier trials three times for Pride and the trainer is satisfied he is ready to return to proper competition.
“He’s looked quite sharp in his trials. I’ve been very pleased with him,” Pride said.
Chris Waller has five Missile Stakes entries but the premier trainer is unlikely to run stable newcomer Kencella.
Kencella’s defection will leave Boban as Waller’s best chance with the Group One weight-for-age winner resuming after a bleeding attack in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
