PUNTERS, and no doubt trainer Robbie Laing, are still unsure what assessment Lord Of The Sky deserves.

The four year-old has gone from potential superstar sprinter to being stretched out to 1400m at Flemington today in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes.

He has started favourite in 10 of his 13 races, returning five wins.

Laing has reunited in-form apprentice Patrick Moloney with Lord Of The Sky. The combination scored a 6.5-length victory over 1000m at Caulfield this time last year.

The Cranbourne trainer said one reason for giving Moloney the ride in the non-claiming race was because the 21-year-old didn’t have any preconceived ideas about whether the entire can be competitive at 1400m.

media_camera Lord Of The Sky will stretch out to 1400 metres in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.

While he has run second at his last two starts, both over 1200m, Laing said Lord Of The Sky wasn’t handicapped to win today, being given second topweight of 59kg.

He said Moloney would be instructed to let the horse do what he does best — jump out of the gates and run.

“He’ll jump and enjoy himself and, over 1400m, he’ll lead,” Laing said.

“Hopefully he’ll keep going and I haven’t got any doubts about it (distance), and he’ll run until he drops. That has been his problem when he has been beaten, because he runs too hard. But he can win.”

Laing said he was mystified why Lord Of The Sky, which hasn’t won since last May, was giving weight to horses which have beaten him.

“It’s frustrating and very disappointing,” Laing said.