Michelle Payne is convinced Lucky Liberty has the X-factor to make his presence felt in the Australian Guineas - but he still has to get into the field. <\/p>\n
Connections have pressed on with plans to run the three-year-old in Saturday's 1600m Group One race despite an unlucky last start which has left him on the borderline. <\/p>\n
His saddle slipped early in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington and he finished 11th which left him 25th in the ballot order for the Guineas which has a field limit of 16 plus emergencies. <\/p>\n
Payne galloped the gelding on Saturday morning and said he felt fantastic. <\/p>\n
\"He's going to work on Tuesday morning with the raceday saddle on, just as a precaution, and I'm really looking forward to next week,\" Payne said. <\/p>\n
\"Hopefully he gets in the field and I think he'll run really well. <\/p>\n
\"He's got that X-factor that you need to win those races and if everything worked out and he got a lovely run, I really think he'd be right in the finish.\" <\/p>\n
Lucky Liberty won his first three starts at Mornington, Sale and Flemington before his first stakes test in the CS Hayes (1400m). <\/p>\n
When Lucky Liberty's saddle slipped it left him trailing the field by about 10 lengths and he started to buck. <\/p>\n
\"The saddle slipped back a fair way and he obviously just wasn't happy about it,\" Payne said. <\/p>\n
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The rest is here: <\/p>\n
Guineas question for Lucky Liberty<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Michelle Payne is convinced Lucky Liberty has the X-factor to make his presence felt in the Australian Guineas - but he still has to get into the field. Connections have pressed on with plans to run the three-year-old in Saturday's 1600m Group One race despite an unlucky last start which has left him on the borderline. Continue reading