MELBOURNE - A decision on whether Leica Falcon starts in Saturday's JJ Liston Stakes or in a 1200m handicap on the same Caulfield programme hinges on a track gallop today.
Trainer Richard Freyer said Leica Falcon would work over 1200m in evens at Corowa on the NSW-Victoria border,zipping home the final 600m.
"We are not worried about which race he runs in as he's fit enough to kick off his spring programme over 1200m or 1400m, but we want to make the decision after he works in the morning," Freyer said.
Leica Falcon was a late nomination for the Liston (1400m) after connections realised there were only 12 original entries for the group two A$200,000 ($231,000) weight-for-age feature in which he will carry 59kg.
The 6-year-old received 60.5kg in the handicap (1200m) for 4-year-olds and upward.
Leading apprentice Sebastian Murphy, who claims 1.5kg in the metropolitan area, will ride the Nothin' Leica Dane gelding if he resumes in the handicap.
But he will not be able to ride him if he runs in the Liston as he has already accepted the mount on the Anthony Cummings-trained Red Lord.
Freyer said he would talk to the owners later about a jockey for Leica Falcon should he run in the Liston.
Leica Falcon, a giant of a gelding who has won five of his 10 starts, hasn't raced for 21 months since his fourth to Makybe Diva in the 2005 Melbourne Cup.
He had stem-cell therapy after pulling up with a tendon injury after a track gallop early in his preparation for last year's Melbourne Cup.
In other Liston news, star West Australian 5-year-old Marasco pleased trainer Fred Kersley in a track gallop at Caulfield yesterday morning with Paul Dyson aboard, while owner Lloyd Williams will bypass the race with his trio of Efficient, Gallic and Zipping.
Victoria Derby winner Efficient will resume in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1.
Adelaide and Sydney Cup winner Gallic and Moonee Valley Cup winner Zipping will kick off their spring preparations in the group two Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 8.
