How long can Resortman keep going for?
That’s a pleasant conundrum facing trainer Michael Lane after the Helmet’s gelding’s brilliant win in the Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
At this point Lane is unsure, but he is daring to dream that he can extend Resortman’s amazing preparation until at least December.
Resortman has been entered for the Railway Stakes (1600m) and Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), but the Gold Rush (1400m) looms as his main target.
For Lane to even be contemplating three $1.5 million Group 1 races is testament to his training acumen and the ability and courage of Resortman.
The six-year-old has performed above and beyond this preparation after coming back from an injury concern last year.
Since July Resortman has won the Bolton Sprint (1200m), the Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), Farnley Stakes (1400m) and Eurythmic Stakes.
Lane said later this week he’ll have more clarity on where Resortman goes to next.
“He’ll spend a couple of days in the paddock as he does after every run,” Lane told TABradio.
“We can go down the beach and give him a couple of days in the water.
“He’ll have an easy week which he does most weeks after he races.
“We have that up our sleeves which he bounces out of really good.
“He looks good today (Sunday), but it will be interesting to see how he pulls up later in the week.
“That will be the telling thing on how many more starts he has.
“If he gets through the way he is getting through you would like to think he has a couple left.
“If he pulls up good he will go around in three weeks’ time in the Lee Steere.
“If he needs to go out he will be a perfect horse for the slot race next year.
“If I get to Thursday and I jump on him and he wants to carry on we keep moving forward.
“If it’s the opposite we obviously pull up stumps and that’s enough for now
“He’s been unbelievably sound this prep, to get this far you take every day of the week.
“I didn’t plan to get this far too be honest.
“You can only dream of getting into one of the big races if he keeps going the way he is going.”
The Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) is run at Ascot on November 5 and The Gold Rush (1400m) on December 10.
Julio Santarelli