Shelbourne trainer Larry Eastman is confident he can walk away from his hometown Cup meeting with a winner.
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Eastman has three horses running at Lord’s Raceway on Saturday night and they’ll go around at each-way odds.
“Two years ago we had Lombo Cloud Nine win on Cup night and that was a great thrill,’’ Eastman said.
“Hopefully, we can do it again.”
Mares Morton Plains and Milly Perez look the best of Eastman’s three chances.
Morton Plains has been solid without winning at her five starts this campaign.
Morton Plains won the Group Three Redcliffe Oaks and was runner-up in the Group One Queensland Oaks in a fruitful Queensland campaign last winter.
She has a second row draw in the Bertocchi Smallgoods Pace, but with luck in running should be right in the finish.
“Morton Plains locked wheels at a crucial stage last week and that cost her,’’ Eastman said.
“She’s probably one run off her peak, but from that barrier she should get a nice run into the race.
“She had a good campaign in Perth, but just didn’t have any luck from bad draws in really tough races.”
Milly Perez will be better for her first-up run at Melton when she runs in the Travelcentre Bendigo Pace.
“She’s poorly drawn, but her form is stronger than most would think,’’ Eastman said.
“I reckon she’s a great each-way chance in a strong race.
“We’ve got no option but to driver her cold, so she’ll go back at the start and, hopefully, get a tow into the race.
“If there’s a genuine tempo she’ll be really dangerous.”
Fullness Of Time rounds out Eastman’s trio of runners in the eighth heat of the Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship.
Fullness Of Time hasn’t run a place in her past 12 starts.
“Her form doesn’t ready that well, but she’s actually going better than that,’’ Eastman said.
“From the draw (eight) she’ll either be behind the leader or three back the fence and she can run a big race at big odds.”
Meanwhile, Eastman’s stable star Menin Gate will remain in the spelling paddock for another month.
The Group One Queensland Derby winner had a disappointing summer campaign in Perth.
“We’ll get him ready for the Vicbred and then possibly another Queensland campaign,’’ Eastman said of Menin Gate.
“He was really flat in Perth. We gave him one too many preparations.
“The good news is he has spelled well and he looks terrific.”