Wet no issues for Montefilia
Trainer David Payne is confident that Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) will have no issues with the rain sodden track when she looks to improve on her fourth-placed finish 12 months ago in the G1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
Payne said drawing out in barrier 16 would not affect Montefilia and he believes this year's race may be slightly weaker than last year.
Montefilia | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“She's such a big-striding filly that if she was drawn one or two, she would be held up, so I would rather her out there where she can use herself,” Payne said.
“I don't think it is the strongest Caulfield Cup. She ran fourth in it last year and she's a much stronger mare now. I think it might even be a weaker field.
“We've targeted this race first and if she goes well, she will go on to the Melbourne Cup. She has had a good preparation.”
Bayliss unfazed by sodden track for Benaud
Meanwhile, jockey Regan Bayliss is also not concerned with the wet conditions ahead of Benaud’s (Reliable Man {GB}) G1 Caulfield Cup engagement on Saturday.
“He's raced on a few Heavy tracks, and he's handled himself very well, so that gives you a lot of confidence,” Bayliss told Racing.com.
“Initially you're a little disappointed (with barrier 20), but when you go through it, it's probably not the worst thing,” Bayliss said.
“He's a get-back horse, he's always ridden quiet to get him into a rhythm and switch him off, Caulfield's probably copping a lot of rain at the moment, so we don't know how the track's going to be racing, they might be coming off and running down the centre anyway.”
Inspirational Girl shoots for Caulfield glory
Danny O’Brien is confident the step up to 2400 metres in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Cup will suit Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
“I am really looking forward to seeing her at a mile and a half. I think she screams out that she is a mile-and-a-half mare,” O’Brien told RSN.
Inspirational Girl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“She has got the pedigree – by Reliable Man out of a Zabeel mare.
“She does get back, so she will just have to pick a path through them and find the best spot depending on where they are racing by the time we get to race nine on Saturday.”
Mustang Valley ready for Group 1 engagement
Andrew Forsman has a good chance to win his first Group 1 as a sole trainer as Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) takes her chance in the G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday.
The daughter of Vanbrugh won on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival before claiming the G3 Metric Mile at Awapuni and was last seen finishing second in the rescheduled G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate at Matamata.
“She was very good last time on a better track and we have seen her go down to Hastings and perform when it was heavy,” Forsman said.
“It may not be a stellar lineup in the Livamol, but they (Group 1s) are never easy to win and she is only a 4-year-old up against tough, seasoned older horses.
“She has had a hard month as well with a fair bit of travelling and she’s got another long trip, but she seems to be coping well.”
Kallos in good form
The James Cummings-trained Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) signalled he was back to somewhere like his best form when he took out the Ranvet H. at Warwick Farm on October 3 and he will attempt to continue in the winning groove when he steps out in the G2 Caulfield Sprint on Saturday.
Kallos | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He's back in winning form,” Cummings said. “He's trained in superior fashion between runs and has the look of a winner about him. He can run another very good race in this handicap, he's well-suited and can come from off the speed.
“It’s been good to get the assumption out of everyone's minds that the horse needs to lead. He can have a nice run in transit, hit the line well, and handle the wet ground with no trouble.”
Vet check for Lost And Running
The Everest contender Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will have to pass a vet inspection on Saturday which will determine whether he can take his chance in the $15 million contest.
On Friday the gelding’s trainer John O’Shea reported the 6-year-old gelding had developed a skin irritation in the inside of his off-hind fetlock joint and would be checked over by RNSW Chief Vet, Dr Peter Curl on Saturday.
Into Mischief at US$250,000
Into Mischief (USA) once again leads Spendthrift Farm's roster for 2023 with his stud fee remaining at US$250,000 ($397,000) S&N. Spendthrift has added four new stallions including Jackie's Warrior (USA) and Cyberknife (USA), who are both pointing for the Breeders' Cup. The other new additions are GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (USA) and Greatest Honour (USA), who are both available for inspection at the farm.
Champion Jackie's Warrior, the likely favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will command a fee of US$50,000 ($80,000) S&N. GI Arkansas Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Cyberknife's fee will be determined after he runs in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Mo Donegal, who retired shortly after his Classic victory, will stand for US$20,000 ($32,000) S&N. While regally bred Greatest Honour will be at an introductory fee of US$7,500 ($12,000) S&N.
Gleneagles colt tops first day of Book 3
A colt by Coolmore Stud-based sire Gleneagles (Ire) was the star attraction during the first session of Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Thursday as Cormac McCormack, who was bidding on behalf of Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, shelled out 140,000gns (AU$249,900) for the yearling.
Catalogued as Lot 1488, the colt was offered by Croom House Stud and he is out of Shannow (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who is herself a sister to Listed winner Mill Marin (Ire) - the dam of Group 3 winner Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).
Lot 1488 - Gleneagles (Ire) x Shannow (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“The horse was well placed-by his owners in the sale and they got well-paid,” McCormack said. “He's the nicest horse in the sale. Great step to him, good pedigree, a touch of class about him.”
Justify chalks up winner number 19
Coolmore’s Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) sired his 19th winner on Thursday as his daughter Prouver (USA) got off the mark at the second attempt at Indiana Grand on Thursday.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the filly came out on top of a close finish to beat Always Laughing (USA) (Mastery {USA}) by a nose, while Roman Flame (USA) (Frosted {USA}) was another 3l away in third.
Justify’s first Southern Hemisphere crop are set to hit the track this year and his Northern Hemisphere-bred runners are headed by four stakes winners including G2 Arlie Stud S. winner Statuette (USA).
