Lad fresh for Sires

By Robert Windmill

MELBOURNE, March 10 AAP - A change of training routine has rejuvenated Delago's Lad who is a happy horse again heading into Saturday's VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington.

Trainer John McArdle said the son of Delago Brom had lost his "shirty" attitude and was hopeful that a freshen-up would see him jump quicker from the gates than two weeks ago when he flashed home to finish sixth to runaway winner Sepoy in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

"His major problem in the Blue Diamond was that he stepped away from the machine and didn't want to get going," McArdle said.

Delago's Lad was last turning for home but switched on in the straight and finished on the heels of the minor placegetters.

Unhappy with the colt's attitude, McArdle sent him to Fulmen Park's specialist facility on the Mornington Peninsula for a freshen-up.

"He went to the water-walker straight after the Blue Diamond because he was getting a little shirty and has come back in great condition," McArdle said.

"He's nice and bright and happy and worked well during the week."

The Blue Diamond was Delago's Lad's first unplaced run in four starts.

A Sandown winner, he was second to Sepoy when beaten a length in the Maribrynong Trial Stakes at Flemington in October and was an eye-catching third to Masthead in the rich Inglis Premier at Mornington 10 days before the Blue Diamond.

McArdle, who won the 2005 Sires' Produce with Danger Looms, said Delago's Lad needed to be on his best behaviour to have any chance of winning Saturday's feature.

"I know it is a big, flat track at Flemington but you can't give good horses big head starts like he did in the Diamond and expect to chase them down," McArdle said.

"I think he has freshened up nicely and if he steps away from the machine better and puts himself in a spot he will be a good competitive chance on Saturday."

Delago's Lad is at $6 for the Sires and will be ridden again by Chris Symons who has partnered him every start.

The Peter Snowden-trained Helmet has easily won his last two starts at Rosehill and is $2.45 favourite ahead of Masthead ($4) who ran into traffic when third in the Blue Diamond.