Alfa Oro (Image: Racing Photos)
Trainer Matt Laurie says talented sprinter Alfa Oro is 'back to his best' after another strong performance in fast time at Wednesday's Mornington jumpouts.
A month ago, the highly progressive five-year-old was scratched a few days out from his first attempt in Stakes grade after presenting with some degree of lameness.
Connections ran tests and scans and found the cause to be nothing more than muscle soreness, which proved a relief to Laurie and owners.
Laurie says Alfa Oro will resume on Friday week at The Valley and has responded extremely well to a change in his training regime.
"He had a soreness behind the saddle and across the top of his bum and it was muscular so it's nothing sinister," Laurie explained.
"He was half a grade lame but there's no lameness at all now, he's back to his best now.
"It's given us peace of mind, we've had it treated and also I've changed up his training.
"I'm not swimming him or putting him on the water walker at the moment, I thought about it and pushing through the water probably wasn't helping him.
"Provided he is all ok we will probably give him a run in the 955-metre Benchmark 84 race next Friday night at The Valley.
"That looks a really nice race for him, obviously you'd expect good speed on and he can land where he's happy and be strong late.
"That will be the hit-out he needs going to his second-up run, and we're looking at potentially a race like the Schillaci Stakes (Group 2 over 1100m on October 10) or the Caulfield Sprint (Group 2 over 1000m on October 17)."
Alfa Oro was an easy winner of his 900-metre jumpout at Mornington on Wednesday in what was the clear fastest heat of the morning, with regular rider Ben Melham in the saddle.
"Ben was happy with him, normally when he works he just does what he has to do and then clocks off and he did that in the trial," Laurie said.
"I think he ran good time for the morning and we were happy with it."