The import announced his Southern Hemisphere arrival in stunning fashion last spring when he beat the six-time elite level winner Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) in the G1 Caulfield S. on debut.
Unfortunately, Cape Of Good Hope’s subsequent performances went downhill and following a spell he will return to action in good health in the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield.
“He won the Caulfield S. and then his performances were poor after that, but he had quite a lot of hoof trouble with bruised heels,” said Tom Dabernig, who trains the import with Ben Hayes.
Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) winning the G1 Caulfield S. in 2019
“He's had a good break and has come back in nice and sound. We’ve got him right and hopefully we can keep him comfortable and have him racing well throughout the spring.”
The Lawrence has attracted a strong line-up, but Lindsay Park has been encouraged by Cape Of Good Hope’s work ahead of resuming.
“It has come up a pretty solid field and I would expect him to run a competitive race and finishing off well. He has drawn in and the track will be in the soft range,” Dabernig said.
“It has come up a pretty solid field and I would expect him to run a competitive race and finishing off well.” – Tom Dabernig
“His two soft track performances were probably only fair, but we’re happy to start off the prep here. If he comes out of it well, we’ll be looking at a race like the G2 Feehan S. (Dato Tan Chin Nam S.) at Moonee Valley over a mile at weight-for-age,” Dabernig said.
“All going well, it would be on to the G1 Underwood S. That’s the path we’d like to take with him.”
Dabernig said Cape Of Good Hope had proved his quality and while 1600 to 2000 metres was probably his optimum distance range, the G1 Caulfield Cup over 2400 metres hasn’t been discounted.
"I think we'll get him to an Underwood S. and work it out from there.”
Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, Cape Of Good Hope was a 2-year-old winner in his native Ireland and subsequently placed twice at Group 2 level before he won the Listed Epsom Blue Riband Trial S. and ran fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
An American campaign followed, during which he was third in the Listed Saratoga Derby and eighth in the G1 Belmont Derby before relocating to Melbourne.
“He’s only a 5-year-old and a colt still, but he’s not a handful so that shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully, we can get him back into the form we know he’s capable of,” Dabernig said.
“Quite often these type of horses run well out of quarantine out of the European summer and it’s then quite common for their form to drop off. They can come good again 12 months later, it’s not a general rule, but it is a bit of a pattern you often see with the imports.”
“They can come good again 12 months later, it’s not a general rule, but it is a bit of a pattern you often see with the imports.” – Tom Dabernig
Cape Of Good Hope’s roots also lie in Australia as he is a son of the Danehill (USA) mare Hveger, a gem of a broodmare who has also produced the seven-time Group 1-winning stallion Highland Reel (Ire) and his multiple Group 2-winning brother Idaho (Ire).
Hveger is out of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay), dam of the top-flight winners and sires Elvstroem and Haradasun.
Smart fillies
Lindsay Park will also be represented by the smart fillies Aryaaf (Epaulette) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s G3 BECK Probuild Quezette S.
“Aryaaf was a stakes winner at two and stakes-placed at Caulfield. She’s only lightly-raced and it looks a nice race as she handles soft ground,” Dabernig said.
Aryaaf won the G3 Ottawa S. on debut before she was second in the G3 Chairman’s S. and then unplaced in the G1 Blue Diamond S. Bella Nipotina is still a maiden, but earned more than $550,000 during her juvenile season.
“She likes the wet and won good prizemoney without winning as a 2-year-old. She’ll sit up on the pace and she trialled very well at Flemington in her lead-up,” Dabernig said.
Rounding out the team at Caulfield is Ruban Bleu (Artie Schiller {USA}), who has solid form credentials for the Hyland Race Colours H. He has a win on the course and five minor placings from his last six outings.
