Peter Robl went agonisingly close to a Melbourne Group One win on a Sydney-trained horse on Sunday.
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On Saturday he hopes to go one better in a feature Sydney Group One on a Melbourne-trained galloper.
Robl has picked up the ride on the Peter Moody-trained French import Lidari in Saturday’s $500,000 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
The jockey was denied by a short-half head on Fontelina in Sunday’s Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield with fellow Sydney sprinter Rebel Dane taking out the 1400m handicap.
The Epsom Handicap meeting is Sydney’s biggest of the spring and Robl is hoping to be in the thick of the action on Lidari and also Arabian Gold in the Group One Flight Stakes.
The jockey said his Epsom Handicap ride was the result of a phone call to Moody’s racing manager.
“I originally rang to tell him I could ride 52 kilos if they were bringing something up for the Epsom,” Robl said.
“I wasn’t locked into anything and normally a few of the Melbourne stables might bring up a lightweight chance, and it so happened that Lidari drew barrier 17 in the Rupert Clarke so they decided to scratch him and go to the Epsom.”
Brought to Australia by OTI Racing, Lidari won at Caulfield over 1400m before finishing a close third in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at weight-for-age at Moonee Valley.
Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate contender Fiorente won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Robl said that was a good form reference.
“He should be a good ride in the race,” Robl said.
Robl continues his association with the David Vandyke-trained Arabian Gold but admits there is one pretty formidable opponent awaiting in the Flight Stakes.
Arabian Gold has won four of her seven starts but was no match for Guelph in the Tea Rose Stakes when second to the star filly last start.
“She’s improved off her first-up second the other day but Guelph proved far superior,” Robl said.
“She’s going as good as we can get her going. All things being equal she’s probably going to struggle beating Guelph but I think she can comfortably beat the rest of them.”
