Philip Kirby has his sights on a long-term staying double for Stargazer following his victory in a Newcastle fast-track qualifier for the all-weather championships.
While Lingfield on Good Friday (April 19) is the obvious first objective for the five-year-old, Kirby is eyeing the Northumberland Plate back at Newcastle on June 29 as a summer target.
“He’s absolutely grand. He’s come out of it fine. We’ve just got to make a plan now,” said the North Yorkshire handler, reflecting on Saturday’s win.
“He’ll have to go for the all-weather finals, I would think. I’m probably going to have to give him a short break now and bring him back for Lingfield and then something like the Northumberland Plate after that.
“There’s a big enough gap to do both – and with the prize money, we have to go for both.
“I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t like Lingfield, because he’s got plenty of turn of foot.
“He definitely deserves to take his chance, that’s for sure.”
