Ad Astra is set to emerge from the shadow of his illustrious litter brother and kennelmate Wow by taking out Saturday night's $40,000 to the winner Bulli Gold Cup.
Ad Astra has drawn box one and trainer Karina Britton, who has Wow nominated for Saturday night's Australian Cup heats at The Meadows, Melbourne, is happy with the draw.
"Box eight would have been perfect but box one is next best so I'm happy,'' Britton said.
"I think Ad Astra can improve on his heat win because all he had leading up to last week's race was a 400m trial at Bulli.
"He had been given time off to recover from a little operation.
"We discovered he had a testicle sitting up in his groin and as it was beginning to worry him we decided to have it removed.
"Early in their careers there was very little between Wow and Ad Astra.
"Ad Astra won his first two races in December, 2019, but then he chipped a stopper bone and did not race for nine months.
"Actually he has done extremely well to come back and win and consistently put time on the board.''
Ad Astra had box one when he covered the 472m in his heat in 26.11, with Barcia Blue Boy, who has drawn three in the final, exiting box five to set the time standard at 25.90.
Poppy Jack, who has box six on Saturday night, drew two in his heat and stopped the clock at 25.94.
The much improved Trunkey Rose has box eight in the final after recording 26.35 in her heat victory from box one.
The funeral for former trainer Joe Lopes will be held at 11am on Wednesday at St Peter's Anglican Church, corner of Windsor and Chapel Streets, Richmond.
This will be followed by a burial at Richmond Lawn Cemetery, 92 Dight St, Richmond, with a wake to follow at Richmond Race Club.
Due to Covid restrictions those attending need to contact Natalie on 0400018232 in advance.
