Zeletto to press spring claims at Sandown

Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver has high hopes for three-year-old Zeletto and expects the colt can press his claims for better races with a win at Sandown.

Zeletto has had a let-up since two winter starts and returns in Wednesday’s Heading Our Hair & Beauty Handicap (1000m).

Oliver is plotting a path towards the $250,000 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 15 with Zeletto.

That could be followed by a shot at the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.

“It’s a pretty good field on Wednesday with some pretty handy horses in there. But I expect him to win because we think he’s a lot better than a midweeker at Sandown,” Oliver said.

“We think he’s a pretty high-class horse.”

Zeletto beat the promising Zebulon on debut at Werribee on rain-affected ground before heading to town where he was narrowly beaten by the Mick Price-trained filly Royal Snitzel over 1100m at Caulfield on July 5.

Royal Snitzel has since finished a close second in the Group Three Quezette Stakes.

“We were probably a touch unlucky against Royal Snitzel,” Oliver said.

“If we had drawn inside of her it maybe would have been a different story.”

Oliver rates the son of Snitzel cleary his best chance of making a spring carnival impression.

The colt is scheduled to progress to a 1000-metre race at Caulfield on September 20 before the Blue Sapphire.

Zeletto geared up for his return in finishing second in a jump-out last Tuesday.

“He’s definitely ready to go,” Oliver said.

Zeletto’s opposition at Sandown includes Caulfield Guineas nominations Moonlight Hussler, Farolitos, Lazyaxl and Lord Barrington.

Meanwhile, stakes winner Cauthen has been scratched from the Hal Baker Plate (1000m) at Sandown with the New Zealand galloper instead set to resume at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!