Sartorial Splendor (Image: Racing Photos)
Trainer John Sadler says he hopes Racing Victoria's handicappers revisit the conditions of the Carlyon Stakes in the future, because his galloper Sartorial Splendor is giving weight to horses 20 ratings points higher than him.
The $140,000 Listed sprint is a set-weights-and-penalties race in which with Sartorial Splendor has been allocated 58.5kg, meaning he will carry more weight than 104-rated Coruscate (58kg) and 103-rated Prezado (57kg).
Under the conditions of the race, Sartorial Splendor was penalised 1.5kg for his win in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes. While his rating is much higher, Coruscate has only won at Listed level in the past 12 months.
Despite being poorly in at the weights, Sadler said he was happy with his galloper.
"He is going to carry 58.5kg, he's an 80-rated horse and he is going to be giving weight to horses that are rated 100-plus. It just doesn't make sense," Sadler said.
"The horse is really good. The reason he is going to The Valley is that he's had three starts there for two wins and a third.
"He obviously likes the place. He's a short-course horse, even though he is not well suited at the weights in this race, we will go there and hope for the best."
Sartorial Splendor has been kept fresh for Saturday's assignment, with his most recent race four weeks ago when he won over 955m at The Valley.
"It was a reasonable win first-up, although he did only just fall in," Sadler said.
"I think he is going really well. The rating he has got now, even though it's not up near the top, we've got to throw him in the deep end, I suppose, as we are doing this Saturday. Hopefully he can take the next step."