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By Ray Hickson

Had things turned out differently in Sydney in the past few weeks then trainer Richard Litt may have been chasing a Listed race with consistent sprinter Lancaster Bomber and not the Geohex Sprint (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Richard Litt (Pic: Bradley Photos)

After his slashing first-up placing behind Malkovich last month, this week’s Ramornie Handicap was on Litt’s radar but with a wet track assured at Randwick he’s happy enough not to be making the trip to Grafton.

The gelding will be leading apprentice Tom Sherry’s first ride back from injury and Litt believes Lancaster Bomber has the conditions to suit as the Warwick Farm trainer chases an overdue Saturday win.

Litt is well aware that his last city winner on a Saturday was Castelvecchio’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas success last year so he’s keen to break that drought.

“I had all intentions of going to the Ramornie but the situation with the Covid outbreak complicated things and then this race came up,’’ he said.

“It’s wonderful to have Tom Sherry back riding, he knows the horse really well and I’m pleased to have him on.

“My God he absolutely loves a wet track. I really hope the horse can run well and win for Tom because he’s missed some of the winter where he should be shining.”

Lancaster Bomber hasn’t finished worse than fifth in his past 14 starts and finished top three in 10 of them.

Behind the five-year-old in his first-up third at Randwick a month ago was inaugural Midway winner Our Bellagio Miss and both the winner Malkovich and runner-up Hulk have also confirmed the form around him.

Litt said he can’t fault the horse heading into Saturday and expects another consistent performance.

“I would say he’s at his mark and he’s going to be very consistent in these races,’’ he said.

“If you’re running consistently in Sydney you’re making money and paying your way and if he can win a couple more for his owners we’d be delighted.

“He’s always ridden better with a drop, even though Nash won on him at Canterbury leading, he’s a better chaser. We have the perfect barrier, you can go wherever you want, Tom knows how to get the job done on him.”

Litt has been a big supporter of the Midway concept, which is exclusively for eligible small and medium sized metro and provincial stables, and after finishing third and fourth in last week’s inaugural running he hopes Altimeter can get him on the board in the $100,000 Midway Handicap (1300m).

The former Godolphin galloper won at his second start for Litt, on a soft 7 at Kembla, and put in a puzzling Rosehill failure before showing he’s back on track with a closing second to O’Mudgee at Canterbury on June 23.

“He’s pretty fresh and well and happy. He’s a good galloper on his day and he really likes the wet ground,’’ Litt said.

“If we get a heavy track then that’s where he comes into it.

“I just don’t think he was 100 per cent right at Rosehill, once we got him home he was lethargic and went a bit rough in the coat. There were a few things that didn’t line up that day that surprised me.

“I ruled a line through that and then he bounced back.”

Lancaster Bomber runs third at Randwick on June 12

Altimeter has drawn barrier one, Litt isn’t sure that will be an advantage just yet but a heavy track would offset coming back from 1550m last start to the 1300m.

That’s something he said might play into stablemate Canyonero’s hands if he gains a start as second emergency after failing to run out the 1900m a couple of weeks ago.

“I think he’s much more suited to about 1400m to a mile, 1900m is definitely not his go,’’ he said.

“He doesn’t mind all tracks, he’s pretty honest and if we get a run he’ll go back and be hitting the line strong. If there’s genuine tempo he’s very good late.

“It depends which Canyonero turns up but on his day he could win one of these races easily.”

Meanwhile, Litt said his $1.9 million colt Profondo is in work at the moment and building up towards a trial in about six weeks as he works out where the rising three-year-old will debut.

The son of Deep Impact has trialled twice, winning his second outing at Randwick on May 3.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting