Godolphin youngster Spacewalk will be chasing a sentimental win when he lines up in the race named after his champion grand sire and one of Darley’s most successful stallions, Lonhro.
The colt, one of two runners for James Cummings in Saturday’s Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick, is by Exosphere, a son of the former Crown Lodge pin-up galloper who won 26 of his 35 starts including 11 Group 1 races.
Unsurprisingly, the race has been a happy hunting ground for the Royal Blue army which has produced half of the eight winners, although only one other – 2018 victor Veranillo- had a pedigree link to Lonhro.
Spacewalk presents with genuine claims after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Plate at his only start when he was caught wide on the speed from an awkward draw and fought on doggedly.
He was again forced to track wide in a recent barrier trial win and Cummings is looking forward to seeing what he can do from a low draw.
“He looks like getting a far more economical run than he got during the Breeders’ Plate last year given he is going to jump from barrier two in this race,” Cummings said.
“We like the way he was able to tough his way through a wide run in his barrier trial, he has tightened up nicely from that.
“He is an interesting colt, Spacewalk, and it would not be beyond him to be beating these horses, provided he’s forward enough first-up.”
The stable also saddles up promising filly Plymstock, an impressive winner of her only start over Saturday’s course and distance last month.
A half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Trekking, she has impressed the team at home and Cummings is keen to see how she handles Saturday’s challenge.
“It will be a good test for her up against horses like (favourite) Lady Laguna, who has already done a fair bit being first-up in her second preparation,” he said.
“But Plymstock has got something, that’s for sure, and it will be interesting to see if she can go to the next level now the pressure is starting to build.”