Unable to find a home at stud, Lord Of The Sky returned to the track to claim the Group III Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year's Day.
Taking up his favoured front-running role under Damien Oliver, Lord Of The Sky staved off Flippant (Hinchinbrook) by a nose with Chamois Road ($6) one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer )
It advanced his record to 7 wins and 5 seconds from 28 starts with earnings of 1,111,250.
Laing said he was unsure how the 7yo son of Danerich would go having not started since August last year.
"I was hoping he wouldn't run last," he said. "I didn't know what he was going to do."
"His trial two weeks ago was the Lord Of The Sky of old. He won by eight (lengths) under a hold but when he pulled up, he blew the house down.
"He's got championship ability, he went close to winning two Group 1's, He went within an inch of beating Chautauqua in the TJ Smith and at his next start, drew 18, and beat all bar Flamberge in the Goodwood.
"It's a mystery to me why a stud doesn't pick him up. Look at Spirit Of Boom, I know he won a Group 1 but he is a similar looking horse, a very, very fast horse.
"He ran second in the Standish two years ago.
"He is a seven-year-old bull and I'd hate to be training him as an eight-year-old.
"Hopefully during June and July, some stud uses their 'trams and trains' (brains). There's that series in Victoria now for two-year-olds over short trips in Victoria that is worth millions of dollars so if they want a quick stallion, on his day there is no quicker than him."
Bred by his trainer, Lord of The Sky is the first named foal of the tough mare Princess Abassi who was one of just two named foals from the second crop of the unheralded Bletchingly stallion Abassi.
Princess Abassi started 43 times for 5 wins and 7 placings despite descending from a family devoid of stakes winners for many generations.
Princess Abassi has a 2yo colt by Turffontein and a yearling filly by the same stallion.
She was covered by Reward For Effort last spring.
Rangal Park Stud, Danerich will have four yearlings on offer at the Inglis Premier Sale.
