Racing
Weather key for Samuel Langhorne
Jockey Blaike McDougall reunites with Samuel Langhorne in a staying contest at Flemington.
With Victoria in desperate need of rain, trainer Michael Kent is hopeful of getting through the early part of the Flemington meeting with not too much falling.
Kent has Samuel Langhorne engaged in the opening race at Flemington on Saturday, the TAB We're On (2520m) and the trainer does not want the track to be too rain-affected.
On Friday the track was rated a Soft 6 with showers developing, while on Saturday the Bureau Of Meteorology is forecasting a 95% chance of between 3 and 9mm of rain.
"He's not a wet tracker, so I'll be keeping an eye on that, but being the first race, he's a bit of a chance, but a lot of rain wouldn't be good for him," Kent said.
Samuel Langhorne struck a purple patch of staying form last year that saw him strike wins at Sandown, Bendigo and Flemington before running sixth to The Map in last year's Melbourne Cup qualifier, the Andrew Ramsden.
The stayer started his summer program in good fashion, running second at Ballarat, before he produced three disappointing efforts.
"He had a good campaign last year and he started well for a summer campaign but then ran poorly at Sandown a couple of times," Kent said.
"I don't think he handled the hill as he's a big, long-striding horse, so I thought I would wait for Flemington as there's a series of staying races, providing the tracks don't get too wet.
"But I've been struggling to find the right races for him.
"I had him in at Moonee Valley one day and the track fell apart, so I late scratched him, and then I ran him at Flemington last time on not suitable ground, but he ran OK.
"The extra trip suits him, so hopefully the ground is not too bad."
Blaike McDougall, who rode Samuel Langhorne to victories at Bendigo and Flemington, reunites with the stayer for the first time since they were paired for success on Anzac Day last year.
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