by Lachlan Mitchell
Cranbourne-based trainer Julius Sandhu is ready to take the racing world by storm when he saddles up Lofty Strike for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The two-year-old colt, a son of Snitzel/Overreach, is currently two wins from two starts after a comfortable victory in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 12.
Sandhu expects the longer distance of 1200 metres to suit his talented galloper and believes he can stretch out even further in the future.
“He will lap it up,” Sandhu said.
“I am of the view that when we put him back, and bring him back as a three-year-old he will probably get out to seven furlongs (1400m).
“He likes to relax and run home.”
The colt’s preparation for the big race has been perfect, according to Sandhu, who expects him to be in the best shape possible come race day.
“He did his final piece of work on Tuesday and he’s had a nice morning at the beach to unwind and relax,” he said.
“Now is the countdown. We have got three days to go to keep him nice and happy and sound.
“We will present him on Saturday in the best shape we possibly can.”
Lofty Strike is Sandhu’s first group-one runner after 39 career-wins since making the move to Australia from Dubai.
“I’m excited to have a runner in a Blue Diamond and the excitement of racing a horse like Lofty Strike is obviously quite big,” he said.
“There’s a lot of nervous energy, at the same time expectation, on the big stage, and we are trying to do everything we possibly can to give him the best chance to run at his true ability.”
Lofty Strike has drawn barrier 13 for the race which will suit the colt due to his long-striding style of racing.
“I’m over the moon with 13, I didn’t want to be on the inside,” Sandhu explained.
“I was hoping to be around seven, eight, nine or 10, but a couple outside of that is fine.”
Lofty Strike will be ridden by Jamie Mott, who has been on-board the colt for both his previous wins at Flemington and Caulfield.
“Jamie and I have known each other for a while, we speak a fair bit at the races and we are quite excited to be on the journey and everything is going well,” Sandhu said.
The understanding between trainer and horse is a special one, and the colts’ ability to let down for home excites Julius immensely.
“One of his biggest strengths is his mentally strength, his mind is bullet proof and nothing phases him,” Sandhu explained.
“He knows what he needs to do and when he saw the straight in front of him at his last start off he went.”
Sandhu is hopeful that Lofty Strike can win the 2022 Blue Diamond and that his preparation and recovery powers will hold him in good stead.
“He’s eating the house down and he looks a million dollars,” he said.
“Everything he is doing is giving me an indication that he will go there and present as a serious possibility of winning.”
