Co-trainer Troy Corstens headed to a recent Caulfield meeting confident The Astrologist was in the right order to come away with a victory.
But after beating only one runner home, Corstens left that meeting disappointed and with the realisation The Astrologist is below his best nowadays on races around a turn.
For that reason, the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained sprinter will have his future racing restricted to races down the Flemington straight, starting with the Listed Straight Six (1200m) this Saturday on Andrew Ramsden Race Day.
At his most recent start down the Flemington straight, The Astrologist finished third behind Cylinder and Imperatriz in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March.
The Astrologist followed with a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before running eighth in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 27.
"I think as he's got older, he's become more efficient down the straight, so we're going to restrict him to that," Corstens said.
"There's plenty of races that will enable us to have a crack at."
In all, The Astrologist has three wins and eight placings from 19 starts at Flemington with two wins and six placings from 13 starts over the straight 1200m course.
The Astrologist also ran second in the Al Quoz Sprint over the straight 1200m course at Meydan in Dubai in March last year before performing well down the straight in the UK.
"There's Stakes races through winter, then it's not too far away to races like the Aurie's Star, the Bobbie Lewis and the Gilgai Stakes and those sorts of races. So, there's lots of options there for him.
"He's a 550-kilogram horse, a big heavy boy, he just needs a bit of help and keeping him to the straight should give him that help."
