Dwyer aims for Gold in Caulfield races

When Henry Dwyer added a coastal base to his training options early this year, talented galloper Lucky Liberty was a horse at the forefront of his thoughts.

Lucky Liberty resumes in Saturday’s $250,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield, launching a preparation which could include a crack at the Group One Goodwood in Adelaide and Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane.

The five-year-old has been plagued by injury and soundness issues during his career but has won six of his 11 starts and is unbeaten in two runs over 1200m at Caulfield, including the Listed Christmas Stakes.

He has been prepared for this campaign out of a property at St Leonards, near Geelong, which Dwyer has added to his training options along with stables at Caulfield and Ballarat.

“We’ve got probably 15 horses in work down there, mainly older horses that need that beach environment,” Dwyer said.

‘It’s been good so far and actually when I bought the property, I pretty much bought it with him in mind.

“He was the horse I thought would benefit the greatest from the property and it’s turned out that way. Well, hopefully his results suggest that but we’ve never had him sounder.

“If he can retain his ability, which there’s no reason he shouldn’t, he’s as sound as he’s ever been so that augurs well for a pretty good preparation.”

The 35-acre set-up has a 1400m sand track and is down the road from a beach where the horses can wade in the water after they work.

They can be taken to Barwon Heads beach to gallop.

“So the first time he really went to the track for the preparation was when he jumped out at Caulfield last week,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer says Lucky Liberty isn’t screwed down for Saturday but is close enough to the mark to run up to his ability and if his performance warrants it, the gelding would likely head to The Goodwood.

Dwyer has favourite Je Suis Tycoon in Saturday’s $300,000 VOBIS Sires’ (1200m) for two-year-olds and expects her to be hard to beat.

She ran home strongly for second in the VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo on debut.

“History will probably look back on it as not the strongest race but the money is good and she’s in good order,” Dwyer said.

“As a $40,000 filly, if she can win a race like that then it’s going to be her birthday.

“She got her purchase price back by running second on debut and this is potentially a pretty big pay day.”