Ascot trainer Trevor Andrews says A Lot Of Good Men can kick off his winter campaign in style by making a winning return at Belmont on Saturday.
The classy A Lot colt is the most favoured of the 10 horses lining up to take out the Juicebox-Campaign Brief Digital Agency Of The Year Plate (1000m).
A $42,5000 Perth Magic Millions Yearling, the talented two-year-old is currently rated a $2.90 chance in latest Tabtouch Fixed Odds Betting.
Behind is Odinaka at $5, with Hanchi and Top Of The Walk $5.50 and Guarding Heaven $7.50, the only other runner in single figure odds.
Trevor Andrews is keen to see A Lot Of Good Men Men back at the races chasing valuable prizemoney after he was ruled out of lucrative 2YO races in the autumn.
A Lot Of Good, a winner in two of four starts, pulled up shin sore after finishing fourth to Super Smink in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) in February.
A Lot Of Good Men ran second to Richanco in a 950m Lark Hill trial a couple of weeks back, fading late after leading for jockey Paul Harvey.
Andrews said A Lot Of Good Men had improved since his trial hit out.
“I wasn’t unhappy with it, I thought it was a pass,” Andrews told Tabradio about the trial.
“Paul (Harvey) found the front, which is unfamiliar territory, we know he’s an off the speed type of horse and chaser.
“He pulled up really good from it, heart rate was good and recovery was good.
“Paul said at some stage we should think about the blinkers.
“I thought 1000m first up was the time to put them on.
“He’s come on since the trial and there are no negatives.”
A Lot Of Good Men carries the 59.5kg top weight, 5 ½ kg above the minimum.
He has drawn barrier three with Harvey booked to ride again.
Andrews says A Lot Of Good Men is carrying a good horses weight.
“He’s not a big horse, he’s quite fine, there’s not a great deal of him,” Andrews said.
“He’s earned the weight, but I think he’s good enough to carry it.
“1000m doesn’t seem to affect them too much, I don’t think.”
Following a short winter preparation, Andrews confirmed A Lot Of Good Men would target feature 3YO races at Ascot’s Pinnacles carnival.
“The idea of this prep is to give him a mid-winter prep, a couple of runs,” Andrews said.
“Then I want to have him back for races like the Belgravia (1200m), the Fairetha (1400m) and WA Guineas (1600m) late October and onwards.”