Straight track to suit The Astrologist at Flemington
Co-trainer Troy Corstens headed to a recent Caulfield meeting confident The Astrologist was in the right order to come away with a victory.
But after beating only one runner home, Corstens left that meeting disappointed and with the realisation The Astrologist is below his best nowadays on races around a turn.
For that reason, the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained sprinter will have his future racing restricted to races down the Flemington straight, starting with the Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday.
At his most recent start down the Flemington straight, The Astrologist finished third behind Cylinder and Imperatriz in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March.
The Astrologist followed with a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before running eighth in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 27.
“I took him to Caulfield for his last start and I really thought he was ready to ping, but he wobbled around that corner,” Corstens said.
“I think as he’s got older, he’s become more efficient down the straight, so we’re going to restrict him to that.
“There’s plenty of races that will enable us to have a crack at.”
In all, the Astrologist has three wins and eight placings from 19 starts at Flemington with two wins and six placings from 13 starts over the straight 1200m course.
The Astrologist also ran second in the Al Quoz Sprint over the straight 1200m course at Meydan in Dubai in March last year before performing well down the straight in the UK.
“He’s an older gelding and he’s got his niggles, but he’s fine, just requires a bit of maintenance,” Corstens said.
“There’s Stakes races through winter, then it’s not too far away to races like the Aurie’s Star, the Bobbie Lewis and the Gilgai Stakes and those sorts of races.
“So, there’s lots of options there for him.
“He’s a 550-kilogram horse, a big heavy boy, he just needs a bit of help and keeping him to the straight should give him that help.”
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