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Some "nice horses" among Lazzarini's quartet (Kembla Saturday)

3 minute read

A half-brother to former Group 1 gun Kermadec will make up part of what could become a four-pronged Brett Lazzarini attack in Saturday's Markey Saddlery Midway Maiden Plate at Kembla Grange.

Racecourse : Kembla Grange
Racecourse : Kembla Grange Picture: Kembla Grange

Unraced three-year-old Stonegate Lane ($19 on TAB) is one of four horses from Lazzarini's yard in the 1000m scamper alongside Bonus Tempus ($34) with stablemates American Glow ($51) and Berenike ($51) among the emergencies.

Stonegate Lane is by Ribchester out of Hy Fuji, the mother of Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec.

Lazzarini believes Stonegate Lane is also loaded with potential but is still learning his craft and will benefit from his debut assignment on home turf.

"He will want a bit of time and is a bit green," Lazzarini said.

"He won a jumpout here the other day, not in exceptional time, and I am not expecting too much of him.

"He will want a little more ground and is only a little horse.

"Gary Portelli had his mother and was struggling to win a maiden then he put a lot of work into her, tightened her up and she ended up winning in Listed grade so I have done the same thing with this fella and he's improved a lot. He will want ground."

Stonegate Lane is the shortest of Lazzarini's four potential runners while American Glow, Bonus Tempus and Berenike are all outsiders.

Lazzarini needs two scratchings to get American Glow in the field but believes she can run a race at odds if the cards fall in her favour.

"If American Glow gets a run in the race, she will go very good," he said. "She ran fourth at Canterbury last start and should have finished a lot closer.

"I might send her around from the wide draw but she is going to be a very nice horse."

Lazzarini admits Bonus Tempus and Benenike will be better suited to country grade but is happy to give them they're chance on home soil.

"Berenike is the fifth emergency and like Bonus Tempus, she should be starting in the country but there are no races for them coming up and they can't just sit in their boxes," he said.

Lazzarini's best chance on the card comes a race earlier with promising three-year-old Steel Blaze ($15) to line up alongside Life Coach ($81) in the Thoroughbred Publishing Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Steel Blaze is out of former Australian Oaks placegetter Aliyana Tilde and Lazzarini he will be better suited over more ground in time.

"Steel Blaze will find the 1200m too short but he will end up a very, very good galloper," he said. "I think he will end up being a Group galloper. He is above average.

"He has got great ability and he could be eight behind them at the furlong and still get home. While he hasn't got a great turn of foot, he has improved this time in."

It's somewhat of a miracle that Life Coach is even racing after the son of Supido survived a serious spider bite as a yearling.

"He got bitten by a spider when he was younger and if you saw a photo you would wonder how he ever could walk," Lazzarini said.

"A piece fell out of his leg the size of a tennis ball and it was touch and go for him. It has caused his nearside leg to turn out and he is just learning how to use his legs again."

Life Coach is a half brother to Group 1 winner Doctor Doom. Lazzarini's final runner is Mancconi ($34) in the CH4 Gas Drainage Provincial Benchmark 64.

"He is an honest old horse and has won about $100,000 but anytime he goes around he gives his all," he added.


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