Finish line approaches for Lord Of The Sky

Lord Of The Sky (right) could be retired immediately if he wins the Group One C F Orr Stakes.

The racing career of Lord Of The Sky could come to an end if he is successful at Group One level.

Trainer Robbie Laing is hoping that may be as early as Saturday when the seven-year-old runs in the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Lord Of The Sky will join the stallion roster of Kingstar Farm at Denman in the NSW Hunter Valley at the conclusion of his racing career and Laing said after the seven-year-old won a Cranbourne trial on Monday, that could be sooner rather than later.

Under Damien Oliver, who has the Orr Stakes ride, Lord Of The Sky was under a tight rein throughout to win his 800m-heat by 2-1/2 lengths in 45.72 seconds.

He was the only horse of the 12 heats over 800m to go under 46 seconds for the morning.

“He probably would have broken 45 (sec) if we had let him run along but that wasn’t the idea of today’s trial,” Laing said.

“Ollie let him run for 100 metres past the winning post and he had a bit of a blow, but that’s typical of him.”

Lord Of The Sky has had two previous tries at 1400m, running seventh at Flemington and fifth, after being in a speed war with The Cleaner, in the 2016 Peter Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, finishing less than two lengths from winner Miss Rose De Lago.

Laing has some reservations about Lord Of The Sky running a strong 1400m, but if left alone for 400m he will reel off a quick last 800m.

With the sale to Kingstar Farm having been finalised, Laing said the pressure was now off to find Lord Of The Sky a home.

“The thing I’m conscious of is not running too many average races for Kingstar Farm’s sake,” Laing said.

“They want to advertise him in June and July and not to be coming off a couple of disappointing runs.

“Even though it was a trial today, it was a great advertisement for the speed at which the horse can run.”

Lord Of The Sky is one of 19 nominations for the first Group One race of the autumn.

Darren Weir has entered Black Heart Bart, Brave Smash, Humidor and Tosen Stardom with Hartnell for Godolphin and Tasmanian galloper, last-start Caulfield winner Tshahitsi, also listed.