If Sharp Response can win the Australian Guineas it will go a long way in helping Julius Sandhu get over the disappointment of missing a start in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

A failed Racing Victoria veterinary inspection forced the Sandhu-trained Lofty Strike to miss last week’s Group 1 race for two-year-olds.

“I don’t know if you ever get over the disappointment of something like that,” Sandhu said.

“Earlier today I poked my head into his box, gave him a cuddle.

“There’s a lot to be excited about. It’s not ideal what happened, but I’ll have a lovely horse to train when he comes back as a three-year-old.”

Sandu has set Sharp Response for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday but had a nervous wait to see if the three-year-old made the final field.

With that box ticked, Sandhu now needs to get Sharp Response to the races in one piece and get a good ride from Beau Mertens.

“The horse cannot be any better and we’re going into the race with a fair amount of excitement,” Sandhu said.

“He’s been set for the race and he’s always given us the impression, as he matures, that he will be able to get over the trip.

“It would have been nice to have gone into the race with a win under the belt, but he’s done everything but win.”

While a lot of trainers would be put off by drawing barrier 12 in a Group 1 race, Sandhu was far from disappointed, describing it as perfect.

He said it would enable Sharp Response to drop his head, settle and breath.

“There’s some there around us like Pinstriped and I’m sure that we’ll be able to find something that we’ll be able to get a tag on the back of and take us into the race,” Sandhu said.

“That will suit nicely.”