Smerdon mares to go on different paths

Trainer Robert Smerdon has stakes options in two centres for Lovani with Sydney the favourite.

Trainer Robert Smerdon is tossing up Melbourne and Sydney options with talented mare Lovani.

The four-year–old has been entered for two races at Flemington on Saturday and also for a stakes race in Sydney.

Her Melbourne options are the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) and the Paris Lane Stakes over the same distance.

But Smerdon has a slight leaning towards the Group Three Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick over the Paris Lane Stakes.

“I think we’ll accept in both places, have a look at the fields and work out the best option,” Smerdon said.

“She was good last time at 1400 metres and she runs a solid 1600 metres.”

Lovani won successive 1600m races at Sandown and Flemington in July before failing over 1200m at Moonee Valley in August.

She appreciated the distance rise at Flemington last start when third behind Sword Of Light and Swampland in the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).

While still to finalise plans for Lovani, Smerdon will be represented by Now Or Later in the Blazer Stakes with the Irish-bred mare on a path towards the Group One Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 4.

Having raced in England, Ireland and the United States, Now Or Later will be having her fourth start in Australia for Qatar Bloodstock.

She returned from a Flemington run in May with a sixth to Savanna Amour at Caulfield over 1200m, beaten less than a length.

“She runs in the Blazer then she runs in the Tristarc (at Caulfield) and then into the Myer,” Smerdon said.

“Ryan Maloney rides her again on Saturday with Craig Williams, who usually rides for the owners, still on the sidelines (suspended).

“I thought she went really well first-up and from the right gate she can be very competitive.”

The spring is over for stablemate Ability who has been found to have an injury following his sixth in an 1100m-race at Caulfield on Sunday.

One of the sprinting finds over winter, Ability strung four wins together including the Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown in August.

X-rays taken from Ability on Monday revealed a bone chip which will need surgery.