Guineas question for Lucky Liberty

Sunday 1 March 2015, 5:44pm

Michelle Payne is convinced Lucky Liberty has the X-factor to make his presence felt in the Australian Guineas - but he still has to get into the field.

Connections have pressed on with plans to run the three-year-old in Saturday's 1600m Group One race despite an unlucky last start which has left him on the borderline.

His saddle slipped early in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington and he finished 11th which left him 25th in the ballot order for the Guineas which has a field limit of 16 plus emergencies.

Payne galloped the gelding on Saturday morning and said he felt fantastic.

"He's going to work on Tuesday morning with the raceday saddle on, just as a precaution, and I'm really looking forward to next week," Payne said.

"Hopefully he gets in the field and I think he'll run really well.

"He's got that X-factor that you need to win those races and if everything worked out and he got a lovely run, I really think he'd be right in the finish."

Lucky Liberty won his first three starts at Mornington, Sale and Flemington before his first stakes test in the CS Hayes (1400m).

When Lucky Liberty's saddle slipped it left him trailing the field by about 10 lengths and he started to buck.

"The saddle slipped back a fair way and he obviously just wasn't happy about it," Payne said.

"He never really got serious about it, he just let me know he was unhappy."

Trainer Henry Dwyer was still encouraged by Lucky Liberty's sectional times from the 1200m with the gelding tacking on to the back of the field before the home turn.

Lucky Liberty is at $13 in the Guineas with the Chris Waller-trained Kermadec the $3.80 favourite.

Waller has booked Hong Kong-based Nash Rawiller to ride.

Former Perth horse Disposition, now in the care of Wez Hunter, is second favourite at $5.50 after his second to Wandjina in the CS Hayes Stakes.

He carried 2.5kg more than the winner but meets him at level weights in the Guineas.

Fellow WA galloper Rommel, the Neville Parnham-trained colt which won the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, is set to back up.

Top Tasmanian three-year-old Admiral, winner of nine of his 12 starts including victory over The Cleaner last Wednesday, will also line up.

– AAP

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