The Gary Portelli-trained Loutrel appears poised to post his first career win in Thursday’s Empire Air CG&E Maiden Plate at Gosford.
Loutrel resumed at Kembla Grange last start where the Testa Rossa gelding ran a close second behind a promising debutant Truly Ready.
Connections went to the track confident of Loutrel’s chances and the three-year-old looked the winner all bar the final 50m.
He was swamped late by Truly Ready and subsequently ran a close second.
Loutrel arguably threw the race away as he laid out badly for jockey Blake Shinn in the straight.
A fortnight later, Loutrel contests the Empire Air CG&E Maiden Plate (1100m) at Gosford where he appears a great chance at going one better.
Gary Portelli has removed the blinkers from the Testa Rossa gelding who while wayward first up, will have at least taken race experience from the outing.
His first up outing was awarded a Timeform figure of 77, 15 pounds shy of a master figure yielded when a midfield fifth in the Canonbury Stakes earlier this year behind Never Can Tell.
Those performances have Loutrel rating highly in this field and based on the gap between his last start performance and master figure, there is plenty to suggest he has room to improve.
He is one of only two horses not resuming or on debut in the event and Blake Shinn staying aboard could be considered a positive lead.
From an outside barrier, the pair like last start should take up a forward position and be prominent throughout.
Those positioned in the first three at Gosford over 1100m from the 400m go on to win 64% of their races which is just one statistic which bodes well for Loutrel’s chances on Thursday.
Impressive Yield resumes for Guy Walter and profiles as one of the main dangers.
The Danzero gelding has placed in both his career outings to date, the latest at Gosford netting him a master Timeform rating of 76.
He will have to improve against Loutrel who has the benefit of race experience but should be forward enough to fire fresh off a pair of trials.
Loutrel does look to have the measure of those with disclosed form.
One who has attracted early support on Thursday morning though is Peter Snowden-trained debutant Sculptures.
The Exceed And Excel colt debuts after a 900m trial at Rosehill on October 17 where he ran second behind Twinzig.
Out of a half sister to successful sire Charge Forward, Sculptures has the right pedigree and can run a bold race on debut.
His first trial last June saw the colt badly away which he can’t afford to do on a track which generally favours leaders.
The support for Sculptures has seen Loutrel drift out to $4 and at that price is worth taking in the Empire Air CG&E Maiden Plate (1100m) at Gosford.
