The Lindsay Park stable considered several possibilities for Plymouth this week, yet the choice to maintain him over 2000 metres directs him towards Caulfield.
The four-year-old son of The Autumn Sun had nominations for Thursday’s 2350m Warrnambool Cup and was accepted for Saturday’s 2100m Gosford Gold Cup, but instead he will compete in the Lamaro’s Ater The Last at Caulfield, which carries a $150,000 prizemoney for benchmark 100 horses.
Plymouth is still searching for a victory in five attempts at 2000m, though he finished second in the Albury Cup and third at Flemington over that distance on either side of a poor showing in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) and Ben Hayes believes 2000m suits him perfectly with a key equipment adjustment.
The gelding is due to sport blinkers for the first occasion since placing second in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) during last spring.
“His last run was good, we just thought he maybe presented a bit early in the straight. He got rolling early and peaked on his run a bit,” Hayes said.
“Now he’s had that good run at 2000, we’ll keep him at 2000 and put blinkers on.
“He’s been knocking on the door. He’s building to another win.”
Plymouth remains winless in five outings this preparation, his latest success recorded in the Benalla Cup (2100m) prior to the Herbert Power Stakes, and Hayes indicated the Saturday event offers an opportunity to prolong his current campaign across state borders.
“If he runs well we’ll consider going up to Brisbane with him,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Will and JD, said.
“There are all those races up there that we can head towards, but he needs to run well. If not, we’ll put him away and get him ready for the spring.”
Plymouth has barrier seven at Caulfield but shifts to six following the scratching of Sayedaty Sadaty with in-form hoop Jamie Mott taking the mount for the first time.
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing odds on the Lamaro’s Ater The Last at Caulfield.