Kit De Luca fitness concerns dismissed by trainer despite five weeks between runs

CO-TRAINER John Meagher has dismissed fitness concerns for Kit De Luca, who aims to make it back-to-back Eagle Farm wins on Saturday.

No concerns: John Meagher says Kit De Luca has had a jumpout at Eagle Farm since her last run.

CO-TRAINER John Meagher has dismissed fitness concerns for Kit De Luca, who aims to make it back-to-back Eagle Farm wins on Saturday.

Meagher also has Divine Dice in the race, but he will be scratched and saved for Doomben next Wednesday.

Kit De Luca was an impressive two-year-old winner on July 6 and the runner-up Beloso, has gone on to win twice since, including in metropolitan grade last Saturday.

Meagher did have Kit De Luca set for the Gold Coast last Saturday, but the race was abandoned, meaning the daughter of Rothesay is now five weeks between runs.

“She’s had a jumpout on the A Grass at Eagle Farm since so I don’t have any concern about the gap between runs,” Meagher said.

“The good thing is that she’s proven at Eagle Farm. She’s also drawn out a bit and the way the track is racing at the moment, that won’t be a problem either.”

The stable also have The Illiad (Race 8) racing in peak form, but unlike Kit De Luca, a big question mark hangs over his ability to handle the new surface at headquarters.

“If you take out those two Eagle Farm runs his form is superb and this race is an ideal target,” Meagher said. “But he’s failed here twice. I’m just hoping it’s because it was wet. I certainly don’t want any rain for him.”

Meagher and his son Chris are in a purple patch of form at the moment, striking at 24 per cent from their past 50 runners, but they have only had small representation in recent times.

“We’re very happy with the way the team is going, but we would still like more horses,” Meagher said.

“We’ve got 25 but could easily handle another 10. Even though we have been going well, it’s very tough to attract horses at the moment.”

Kit De Luca was an impressive two-year-old winner on July 6. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

No blinkers may get Le Chef cooking again

DARRYL Hansen has been granted permission to remove the blinkers from Magic Millions winner Le Chef when he runs in the Class 3 Plate at Eagle Farm.

Hansen and connections are searching for a way to spark improvement from Le Chef, who has finished no closer than 3.7 lengths from the winner in six starts subsequent to his 2015 MM win.

Though Hansen’s application came after the acceptance deadline, Chief Steward Allan Reardon agreed to allow the change, given the horse has struggled so much over the past 20 months.

Farm looks best option for Zin Zan Eddie

MATT Smith indicated Zin Zan Eddie was almost certain to run at Eagle Farm, as opposed to Rosehill, but stablemate Sharpsburg is likely to stay at home after being made third emergency in the 0MW 1000m.

Originally published as Kit De Luca fitness concerns dismissed by trainer despite five weeks between runs