Veteran sprinter Cocinero may deviate from the path that led him to success in last year's Christmas Stakes should the track be significantly rain-affected for Saturday's Sandown meeting.The seven-year-old is engaged in the Dual Choice Handicap (1200m) and at the same meeting a year ago he won the Tom Hutchins Megabolt Cup (1300m).Trainer Robbie Griffiths said he had planned a similar program this year but Cocinero may not race again before the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day as he n
Veteran sprinter Cocinero may deviate from the path that led him to success in last year's Christmas Stakes should the track be significantly rain-affected for Saturday's Sandown meeting.
The seven-year-old is engaged in the Dual Choice Handicap (1200m) and at the same meeting a year ago he won the Tom Hutchins Megabolt Cup (1300m).
Trainer Robbie Griffiths said he had planned a similar program this year but Cocinero may not race again before the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day as he needed firm ground to show his best.
"He might not run on Saturday if the ground comes up a bit soft," Griffiths said.
Sandown's Lakeside track was on Thursday rated a good three but rain is forecast for the next two days.
Apprentice Nicholas Hall has ridden Cocinero through a spring campaign hindered by wide gates and on Saturday the gelding has again drawn wide in barrier nine of 10.
Griffiths said Cocinero was still a very capable sprinter and was not disgraced last start when sixth to Captain Bax in the Listed Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.
Last year the Heffernan was over 1200 metres and he finished third to Gibraltar Campion when beaten just over a length.
"Cocinero is a year older now and he may have lost the odd per cent but it does make a big difference when you keep drawing bad barriers," Griffiths said.
"His runs really haven't been bad but it is hard to overcome all the difficulty of being drawn off the track."
The Lee Freedman-trained Let Loushe makes strong appeal after his last-start second to Juggle The Books over 1200 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day while King Hoaks beat a restricted field at Flemington on November 8.
Topweight Itsamonty looked unlucky when beaten in a photo-finish in last month's Dual Choice Plate (1203m) at Geelong and last start made amends when winning the Frankston Cup (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 9.