Fancied Cup runners draw wide
Leading G1 Caulfield Cup contenders Incentivise (Shamus Award) and Delphi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) have been set an arduous task after drawing the widest of all runners, barriers 20 and 19 respectively.
Grahame Begg’s G1 Might And Power S. runner-up Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) has drawn barrier 16 and will have G1 Sydney Cup winner Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) lining up to his outside, barrier 17.
Last year’s third placegetter The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) maps superbly in barrier nine and will line up alongside G1 Turnbull S. runner-up Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), barrier eight, and Master Of Wine (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), barrier 10.
Last start G1 Metropolitan H. winner Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) has drawn barrier 12 while Wednesday’s G3 Coongy Cup winner Duais (Shamus Award) will step from barrier three.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp will be represented by Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), barrier one, and Persan (Pierro), barrier 11.
Wide Everest draw no barrier
Prominent owner Rupert Legh has little concern about Masked Crusader’s (Toronado {Ire}) wide draw, barrier nine, in Saturday’s $15 million The Everest at Randwick.
The Team Hawkes-trained gelding was a dominant last-start winner of the G2 Premiere S. and will represent Max Whitby and Neil Werrett’s slot in the star-studded sprint.
"I'm happier being drawn in nine than being in barriers one, two or three or 10. I don't want him on the fence,” Legh told Racing.com.
“That race (the G2 Premiere S.) topped him off, he needed it and tightened the screws to the point where John (Hawkes) has him right where he wants him."
Espiona kickstarts career
Star Thoroughbreds-owned filly Espiona (Extreme Choice) kickstarted her career in fine fashion with a devastating 3.5l romp at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old accounted for stablemates Arranmore (Astern) and Lady Piaf (I Am Invincible) in the 1200 metre Admire Mars At Arrowfield Mdn H.
A $190,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), Espiona is out of O’Reilly (NZ) mare Dahooil (NZ), who is a sister to stakes winner Bonny O’Reilly (NZ).
Coongy delight for Duais
G1 Queensland Guineas winner Duais (Shamus Award) has cemented her status as a genuine G1 Caulfield Cup contender after taking out Wednesday’s 2000 metre G3 Coongy Cup at Caulfield.
Duais
The Edward Cummings-trained mare settled back in the field before finishing the better of the fast-finishing Wentwood (GB) (Redwood {GB}) and short-priced fancy Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) under the urging of Damien Thornton.
Wet no worry
Peter Moody has labelled short-priced G1 Caulfield Cup fancy Incentivise (Shamus Award) as a ‘pretty bulletproof type of horse’ ahead of his raid on Saturday’s edition of the 2400-metre feature.
Moody is confident the G1 Makybe Diva S. and G1 Turnbull S. winner will handle likely wet conditions on the day.
“He’s four-from-four on Soft ground in Queensland and one of those was on a Soft 7, albeit in lesser grade, so we take heart from that,” Moody told Racing.com.
“So, if you think his form’s good enough to win it, he’ll win it.”
Cheval marks milestone for Cameron
Cheval Prometteur (GB) (Declaration Of War {USA}) will mark Catherine Cameron’s first Group 1 runner when he steps out in Saturday’s G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings.
Cameron has been delighted by the 7-year-old gelding’s progress since finishing third over a mile at Te Rapa on October 1.
“He has been racing really consistently, it is the first time for us going further than a mile but he did win in England over ground and that is what he has always looked like he has wanted to do,” Cameron said.
“We are putting blinkers on for the race this weekend. He dived on the line again, which is what you like to see when you are going to go further.”
Forecast cements Cup start
Forecast wet weather will see OTI-owned entire Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) contest this Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Cup.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained 5-year-old brings mixed form into the 2400 metre feature having finished second in the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup before fading into 14th position in the G1 Metropolitan H. at his most recent start.
“We were a little bit nervous to bring him down to Caulfield because the track can be very firm there,” Forsman told SENTrack.
“We were a little bit nervous to bring him (Quick Thinker) down to Caulfield because the track can be very firm there." - Andrew Forsman
“He would need good rain the day before and the day of for him to come into his own, and there is the potential for that to happen.”
Poetic Flare retires to Japan
Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan from next year.
This year’s top-rated 3-year-old miler and winner of G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace S. was last seen when beaten a neck by Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August.
“I’m sure many racegoers will be disappointed not to see him at Ascot, and I am disappointed myself that he is not going there, but it was not possible,” trainer Jim Bolger told TDN Europe.
“This is a first for me, but it is a great opportunity for the horse and I will be supporting him with mares myself, even though it won’t be straightforward.”
Palmer plots Cup course
Hugo Palmer is plotting a course towards next month’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar with last start G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
“He’s come out of the race great,” Palmer told TDN Europe. “He ran an absolute blinder, he showed the world what we have always thought of him, that he is a 2-year-old out of the very top draw.”
“He’s going to need to be in top order for us to do that, but he’s come out of the race phenomenally well. I think the trip to Del Mar will really make him grow up.”
Mori quartet headed to Breeders’ Cup
Japanese-based trainer Hideyuki Mori will send four American-bred horses under his care to next month’s Breeders’ Cup, according to the Daily Sports newspaper.
Mori will be represented by impressive last-start winner Jasper Great (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Jasper Prince (USA) (Violence {USA}) in the G1 Dirt Mile.
Pingxiang (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) may join Jasper Prince in the Dirt Mile while Metra Sky (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) is being ticketed for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
According to reports, the horses will enter export quarantine on October 21 and are scheduled to depart Tokyo’s Narita Airport on October 29.
Midnight Storm Colt on Top at OBS
A second crop Midnight Storm (USA) colt (Hip 67) has topped the Selected Yearling portion of the OBS October Sale when knocked down for US$170,000 (AU$232,000) to Elusive Thoroughbreds.
Consigned by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm, the colt was bred in Pennsylvania by Mary Katherine Haire. He was purchased for US$27,000 (AU$37,000) at Keeneland November last year.
A total of 99 yearlings grossed US$4,498,500 (AU$6,130,000) with an average of US$45,439 (AU$62,000) and a median of US$32,000 (AU$44,000).
