UK Press Association
Damien Oliver was impressed after partnering Luca Cumani's Cima De Triomphe in a racecourse gallop at Sandown.
Basaltico, who worked with Oliver's mount, is on course for a crack at the Geelong Cup on October 21 - a route Cumani took with Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer 12 months ago - while Cima De Triomphe's aim is the Caulfield Cup on October 17.
Oliver failed to land Melbourne Cup glory for Cumani on Purple Moon and Mad Rush and he told www.ozeform.com: "It was a nice piece of work and I liked the way he was able to go to the other horse when I asked him for an effort."
He added: "The others were a bit lightly-framed but this horse is bigger and stronger and I liked the way he worked."
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Profound Beauty -Mourilyan - Munsef - Kirklees - Crime Scene - Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Jolie's Shinju's
The Age
Andrew Eddy
October 8, 2009
RACING Victoria Ltd officials were still expecting as many as six international horses to face the starter in the November 3 Melbourne Cup despite the shock withdrawal yesterday of Irish mare Profound Beauty.
The chances of an international win in next month's Cup plummeted immediately on the announcement that the Dermot Weld-trained mare would remain at home in Ireland to be prepared for another European racing season instead.
RVL's racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said he spoke to Weld late on Tuesday night and was deflated with the news that the Cup's best credentialled overseas contender would not arrive as had been expected on Saturday. ''It is a blow because she is a very talented mare and Dermot is a great drawcard as he was aiming for a third Cup win,'' Jordon said. ''But there are some quality horses already here and due to arrive that I'm sure will be most competitive.''
Profound Beauty's owners paid $1450 at the second declaration stage for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but by Wednesday had decided against a second tilt at the race. ''Moyglare Stud made the decision not to send Profound Beauty to Melbourne, so she'll be staying at home. The plan is to keep her in training next year,'' Weld's son Mark said.
Already in Melbourne are Godolphin's pair of Kirklees and Crime Scene and Luca Cumani's two, Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico.
They will be joined on Saturday morning by English-based Mourilyan and Munsef, who are certain to run in the Melbourne Cup.
Andrew Eddy
October 8, 2009
RACING Victoria Ltd officials were still expecting as many as six international horses to face the starter in the November 3 Melbourne Cup despite the shock withdrawal yesterday of Irish mare Profound Beauty.
The chances of an international win in next month's Cup plummeted immediately on the announcement that the Dermot Weld-trained mare would remain at home in Ireland to be prepared for another European racing season instead.
RVL's racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said he spoke to Weld late on Tuesday night and was deflated with the news that the Cup's best credentialled overseas contender would not arrive as had been expected on Saturday. ''It is a blow because she is a very talented mare and Dermot is a great drawcard as he was aiming for a third Cup win,'' Jordon said. ''But there are some quality horses already here and due to arrive that I'm sure will be most competitive.''
Profound Beauty's owners paid $1450 at the second declaration stage for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but by Wednesday had decided against a second tilt at the race. ''Moyglare Stud made the decision not to send Profound Beauty to Melbourne, so she'll be staying at home. The plan is to keep her in training next year,'' Weld's son Mark said.
Already in Melbourne are Godolphin's pair of Kirklees and Crime Scene and Luca Cumani's two, Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico.
They will be joined on Saturday morning by English-based Mourilyan and Munsef, who are certain to run in the Melbourne Cup.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Speed Gifted
October 6, 2009
The Age
SPEED Gifted looks to have secured a berth in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups after he was yesterday penalised two kilograms for his Metropolitan Stakes win at Randwick last Saturday.
He will now carry 53 in both races. Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said the penalties - the highest for a Metropolitan winner since Vita Man's two kilos in 1999 - reflected the ease of the imported horse's win.
The $4.50 Caulfield Cup favourite and $7.50 Melbourne Cup second favourite now moves to equal 24th on the order of entry into the 18-horse Caulfield Cup field and 25th in the Melbourne Cup.
Speed Gifted is likely to move up further in the Caulfield Cup rankings when third declarations are taken this morning. Declarations are also taken this morning for the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. Light Vision was not penalised for winning last Saturday's Bart Cummings, and remains a Caulfield Cup doubt at equal 29th.
The Age
SPEED Gifted looks to have secured a berth in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups after he was yesterday penalised two kilograms for his Metropolitan Stakes win at Randwick last Saturday.
He will now carry 53 in both races. Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said the penalties - the highest for a Metropolitan winner since Vita Man's two kilos in 1999 - reflected the ease of the imported horse's win.
The $4.50 Caulfield Cup favourite and $7.50 Melbourne Cup second favourite now moves to equal 24th on the order of entry into the 18-horse Caulfield Cup field and 25th in the Melbourne Cup.
Speed Gifted is likely to move up further in the Caulfield Cup rankings when third declarations are taken this morning. Declarations are also taken this morning for the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. Light Vision was not penalised for winning last Saturday's Bart Cummings, and remains a Caulfield Cup doubt at equal 29th.
Efficient - Speed Gifted - Predatory Pricer - Vigor - Daffodil
The Age
Andrew Eddy
October 4, 2009
THE Caulfield and Melbourne cups have new favourites after two breathtaking victories in group 1 races just 20 minutes apart but in totally different conditions yesterday.
At Flemington, Efficient won his first race since the 2007 Melbourne Cup and just his second in three years when he unleashed sizzling sectionals on the firm track to take the Turnbull Stakes in a major upset. His performance came just as the presentation at Randwick was being completed for Speed Gifted's dominant 3½-length win in the Metropolitan on a deteriorating track to catapult him to Caulfield Cup favouritism.
Speed Gifted is now $4.50 favourite for the Caulfield Cup although he is not yet assured of a start. He is also the $7 equal favourite with Efficient for the Melbourne Cup.
For Efficient's owner, Lloyd Williams, the unexpected victory was doubly satisfying as the grey was ridden by his godson Nick Hall.
''It is stuff that dreams are made of when your godson rides his first group 1 winner on one of your all-time favourite horses,'' Williams said. ''That run shows that he's on target for the Melbourne Cup. It's been a most satisfying day.''
It is doubtful whether Nick Hall has enjoyed a better day at the races. He won the listed Bart Cummings on Light Vision, his first group 1 win on Efficient and then, 40 minutes later, won the group 2 Gilgai Stakes on All Silent.
Lee Freedman was also more than satisfied with his imported galloper Speed Gifted's performance to plough through wet conditions to trounce his rivals in the Metropolitan.
Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter holds the key to whether Speed Gifted makes the final field on October 17 when he tomorrow announces a penalty for the galloper's win.
Speed Gifted was languishing outside the Caulfield Cup elimination list at equal 63rd in order for a run and although yesterday's win took him past the first ballot clause for the $2.5 million race, he still will need a penalty of at least two kilograms to be assured of a run.
With 51, Speed Gifted has eight kilograms under weight-for-age, but with a two-kilogram penalty he would rise to a safe spot at equal 24th for the 18-horse field. More than six horses who are higher ranked are certain to miss the Caulfield Cup.
Freedman said he would not be deflated if Speed Gifted did not make the Caulfield Cup line-up. ''His win was emphatic and showed me that he is a real Melbourne Cup horse,'' Freedman said.
Yesterday's win lifted Speed Gifted from 80th in line for a run in the Melbourne Cup. A two kilogram penalty would push him to about 25th.
Efficient, who cannot be re-handicapped for his Turnbull win, was back near the tail of the field until he registered a blistering 22.05 seconds for the section between the 600 and 200 metres.
He edged out a gallant Predatory Pricer, who is now likely to run next in the Caulfield Cup, for which he is the second favourite.
Vigor, who had dominated the Caulfield Cup market since his Makybe Diva Stakes win a month ago, was tumbling down the betting last night after an inglorious 13th in the Turnbull.
Trainer Danny O'Brien said the galloper was cramped for room and did not finish off his race but looked to have pulled up well and would press on to the Caulfield Cup.
AJC Oaks winner Daffodil's Caulfield Cup hopes faded after she ran a lacklustre fourth behind bolter Vosne Romanee in the Kelt Capital Stakes in New Zealand yesterday.
Andrew Eddy
October 4, 2009
THE Caulfield and Melbourne cups have new favourites after two breathtaking victories in group 1 races just 20 minutes apart but in totally different conditions yesterday.
At Flemington, Efficient won his first race since the 2007 Melbourne Cup and just his second in three years when he unleashed sizzling sectionals on the firm track to take the Turnbull Stakes in a major upset. His performance came just as the presentation at Randwick was being completed for Speed Gifted's dominant 3½-length win in the Metropolitan on a deteriorating track to catapult him to Caulfield Cup favouritism.
Speed Gifted is now $4.50 favourite for the Caulfield Cup although he is not yet assured of a start. He is also the $7 equal favourite with Efficient for the Melbourne Cup.
For Efficient's owner, Lloyd Williams, the unexpected victory was doubly satisfying as the grey was ridden by his godson Nick Hall.
''It is stuff that dreams are made of when your godson rides his first group 1 winner on one of your all-time favourite horses,'' Williams said. ''That run shows that he's on target for the Melbourne Cup. It's been a most satisfying day.''
It is doubtful whether Nick Hall has enjoyed a better day at the races. He won the listed Bart Cummings on Light Vision, his first group 1 win on Efficient and then, 40 minutes later, won the group 2 Gilgai Stakes on All Silent.
Lee Freedman was also more than satisfied with his imported galloper Speed Gifted's performance to plough through wet conditions to trounce his rivals in the Metropolitan.
Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter holds the key to whether Speed Gifted makes the final field on October 17 when he tomorrow announces a penalty for the galloper's win.
Speed Gifted was languishing outside the Caulfield Cup elimination list at equal 63rd in order for a run and although yesterday's win took him past the first ballot clause for the $2.5 million race, he still will need a penalty of at least two kilograms to be assured of a run.
With 51, Speed Gifted has eight kilograms under weight-for-age, but with a two-kilogram penalty he would rise to a safe spot at equal 24th for the 18-horse field. More than six horses who are higher ranked are certain to miss the Caulfield Cup.
Freedman said he would not be deflated if Speed Gifted did not make the Caulfield Cup line-up. ''His win was emphatic and showed me that he is a real Melbourne Cup horse,'' Freedman said.
Yesterday's win lifted Speed Gifted from 80th in line for a run in the Melbourne Cup. A two kilogram penalty would push him to about 25th.
Efficient, who cannot be re-handicapped for his Turnbull win, was back near the tail of the field until he registered a blistering 22.05 seconds for the section between the 600 and 200 metres.
He edged out a gallant Predatory Pricer, who is now likely to run next in the Caulfield Cup, for which he is the second favourite.
Vigor, who had dominated the Caulfield Cup market since his Makybe Diva Stakes win a month ago, was tumbling down the betting last night after an inglorious 13th in the Turnbull.
Trainer Danny O'Brien said the galloper was cramped for room and did not finish off his race but looked to have pulled up well and would press on to the Caulfield Cup.
AJC Oaks winner Daffodil's Caulfield Cup hopes faded after she ran a lacklustre fourth behind bolter Vosne Romanee in the Kelt Capital Stakes in New Zealand yesterday.
Efficient - C'est La Guerre - Viewed - Vigor - Master O'Reilly
The Age
4/10/09
THE markets for the spring carnival's big three - the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup - were reshuffled by bookmakers following yesterday's Turnbull Stakes, as Efficient and Nick Hall sounded an ominous warning to their rivals with an incredible victory in the group 1 event.
But while the gallant grey stayer and his up-and-coming jockey basked in the glory of an unexpected triumph - Efficient's first since the 2007 Melbourne Cup - a handful of other stayers staked their claim for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups with eye-catching trials, while early cups favourite Vigor slid down the pecking order after an inglorious run.
After the heartbreak of Efficient missing the 2008 Melbourne Cup through injury, connections were brimming with excitement at the prospect of another crack at Australia's most famous race with the grey and C'est La Guerre.
"It was a great win and we were expecting a big run from him today. He'll go to the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup now," said Nick Williams, son of Efficient's managing part-owner, Lloyd Williams. "(We're) also very happy with C'est La Guerre. He bounced back after his last run and will run next week in the Yalumba, then go to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup."
The third Williams-owned runner in yesterdays race, veteran stayer Zipping, also pleased and will head either to the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes before a likely attempt at a third straight Sandown Classic.
Williams said Efficient had shown he was back to his best in trackwork and an incredible split of 22.77 seconds between the 800 and 600 metres reflected that.
Despite a moderate tempo set by the heavily backed Maldivian, who was allowed to bowl along in front, Efficient reeled off very slick closing sectionals to reel in a brave Predatory Pricer, who looked set for victory inside the final 200 metres after stalking the speed for most for most of the race.
The Caulfield Cup rather than the Cox Plate firmed as Predatory Pricer's main spring aim after yesterday's run.
"We might have got to the front a bit early but he switched off well without the blinkers and ran a great race,'' said trainer Paul Murray. ''I'm probably leaning towards the Caulfield Cup at this stage. It's two weeks away and fits in better, but I've got to talk to the owners."
Third-placed Scenic Shot overcame a wide run and a mid-race move to out-bob Maldivian for third, while Kiwi stayer Red Ruler stuck on gamely with veteran Baughurst.
And another Melbourne Cup winner caught the eye further back in the field and brought a grin to the face of his trainer, ''Cups King'' Bart Cummings.
"Viewed ran very well and I'm very happy from a Melbourne Cup perspective. I'm not sure where we go now, though," he said.
Cummings' other Turnbull runner, Roman Emperor, looked a chance inside the 400 metres but just lacked the turn of foot needed to go with the placegetters on firm ground.
Danny O'Brien is hoping that former Caulfield and Melbourne cups favourite Vigor's lacklustre performance in the Turnbull was merely a blip on the radar, and said the stable would press on to the Caulfield Cup.
"He was disappointing on face value but Damien [Oliver] did say that there was a lot of pressure early on and that may have had an effect," O'Brien said. "Obviously it's not what you want to see at your last run before a Caulfield Cup but he was right on track before that so you've got to press on."
O'Brien's other Turnbull acceptor, Master O'Reilly, was scratched yesterday morning because of an elevated temperature, and could start in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield as a tune-up for the cup a week later if he recovers over the next few days.
4/10/09
THE markets for the spring carnival's big three - the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup - were reshuffled by bookmakers following yesterday's Turnbull Stakes, as Efficient and Nick Hall sounded an ominous warning to their rivals with an incredible victory in the group 1 event.
But while the gallant grey stayer and his up-and-coming jockey basked in the glory of an unexpected triumph - Efficient's first since the 2007 Melbourne Cup - a handful of other stayers staked their claim for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups with eye-catching trials, while early cups favourite Vigor slid down the pecking order after an inglorious run.
After the heartbreak of Efficient missing the 2008 Melbourne Cup through injury, connections were brimming with excitement at the prospect of another crack at Australia's most famous race with the grey and C'est La Guerre.
"It was a great win and we were expecting a big run from him today. He'll go to the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup now," said Nick Williams, son of Efficient's managing part-owner, Lloyd Williams. "(We're) also very happy with C'est La Guerre. He bounced back after his last run and will run next week in the Yalumba, then go to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup."
The third Williams-owned runner in yesterdays race, veteran stayer Zipping, also pleased and will head either to the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes before a likely attempt at a third straight Sandown Classic.
Williams said Efficient had shown he was back to his best in trackwork and an incredible split of 22.77 seconds between the 800 and 600 metres reflected that.
Despite a moderate tempo set by the heavily backed Maldivian, who was allowed to bowl along in front, Efficient reeled off very slick closing sectionals to reel in a brave Predatory Pricer, who looked set for victory inside the final 200 metres after stalking the speed for most for most of the race.
The Caulfield Cup rather than the Cox Plate firmed as Predatory Pricer's main spring aim after yesterday's run.
"We might have got to the front a bit early but he switched off well without the blinkers and ran a great race,'' said trainer Paul Murray. ''I'm probably leaning towards the Caulfield Cup at this stage. It's two weeks away and fits in better, but I've got to talk to the owners."
Third-placed Scenic Shot overcame a wide run and a mid-race move to out-bob Maldivian for third, while Kiwi stayer Red Ruler stuck on gamely with veteran Baughurst.
And another Melbourne Cup winner caught the eye further back in the field and brought a grin to the face of his trainer, ''Cups King'' Bart Cummings.
"Viewed ran very well and I'm very happy from a Melbourne Cup perspective. I'm not sure where we go now, though," he said.
Cummings' other Turnbull runner, Roman Emperor, looked a chance inside the 400 metres but just lacked the turn of foot needed to go with the placegetters on firm ground.
Danny O'Brien is hoping that former Caulfield and Melbourne cups favourite Vigor's lacklustre performance in the Turnbull was merely a blip on the radar, and said the stable would press on to the Caulfield Cup.
"He was disappointing on face value but Damien [Oliver] did say that there was a lot of pressure early on and that may have had an effect," O'Brien said. "Obviously it's not what you want to see at your last run before a Caulfield Cup but he was right on track before that so you've got to press on."
O'Brien's other Turnbull acceptor, Master O'Reilly, was scratched yesterday morning because of an elevated temperature, and could start in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield as a tune-up for the cup a week later if he recovers over the next few days.
Speed Gifted - Lee Freedman
Herald Sun
2/10/09
SPEED Gifted, the best Melbourne Cup contender Lee Freedman has had since Makybe Diva, wasn't part of his latest and most far-fetched plan to win the great race, but he was a bi-product of it.
If Speed Gifted can win The Metropolitan at Randwick tomorrow, qualify for the Melbourne Cup, then win it, it would prove one or two things about the modern Cup and how the big local stables best think they can win it.
More and more of our trainers are using the world as their market place.
This time last year Freedman's team invited about 100 rich clients and their mates to lunch at a fancy city restaurant.
The pitch was that the well-to-do's scrounge up $1 million between them. Freedman's brother Anthony, stable vet Johnny Walker and one or two others would grab the cash and take it to the October Tattersalls horses in training sale at Newmarket in England.
The theory was that the hardiest, most Aussie-like, affordable European stayers were a safer gamble than forking out the same amount for untried, possibly hopeless, yearlings here.
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.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
The pitch struck a chord with businessmen who'd become field shy with the risks of the yearling market, but saw a clear bottom line with horses who'd already proven they could gallop, albeit half a world away.
"The margin for error was less for these guys than buying a Zabeel at the sales and waiting three years to find out it was no good," Freedman said.
"Some blokes like a bit more surety with what they're buying. These horses we ended up buying might not have been world-beaters but at least they knew what they were buying."
The budget was set and so was the number -- six. The criteria was strict.
"They had to vet well, had to have good feet. We weren't looking for frail wet track English horses," Freedman said.
The sale was tricky with the horses only brought into the complex on the day itself.
"There were over a thousand of them," said Freedman, who did not make the trip.
The team bought six horses and spent the $1 million. It's at this time that Speed Gifted entered the scene.
He was too well performed to be on the Freedman shopping list and wasn't even for sale.
But the owner, who raced the horse with Luca Cumani and had caught Cumani's Melbourne Cup itch, transferred Speed Gifted to Freedman and he became the seventh member of the team.
The home trip was character building.
"If they could have talked they'd have said 'what the hell's going on here?' Freedman said.
"They cut off our extremities (gelded), took us out of the snow and dumped us somewhere where it's 125C. That's kind of how we came up with the Ball and Chain Syndicate. It seemed to fit. They must have thought they were convicts."
Bar for Speed Gifted, Freedman does not believe the rest of the squad will measure up to the spring cups, at least not this year.
But he has been impressed with their form, pleased with the exercise. Four of the six have won - Timetable, Trenchtown, Sound Of Nature and Woodcutter - another, Mastercraft, "ran a blinder" at his first run here.
Tomitoul Flyer, the most expensive (about $100,000), is injured.
"It will be a quantum leap for any of them to become Caulfield or Melbourne Cup horses but you really never know. Races like the Adelaide Cup are possible for sure," he said.
The Ball And Chain Syndicate reassemble for lunch today, at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne.
"It's a bit like one of those evangelical conferences - come yourself and bring a friend!" Freedman said.
The pitch will be the same as last year, with more room to move at the other end.
"We're still hoping to raise $1 million, but the money's worth more at the other end because the exchange rate has improved," Freedman said.
Freedman hasn't had a Melbourne Cup runner since Makybe Diva's three-peat win in 2005. "Who knows, my next might end up being one of these convict horses," he said.
2/10/09
SPEED Gifted, the best Melbourne Cup contender Lee Freedman has had since Makybe Diva, wasn't part of his latest and most far-fetched plan to win the great race, but he was a bi-product of it.
If Speed Gifted can win The Metropolitan at Randwick tomorrow, qualify for the Melbourne Cup, then win it, it would prove one or two things about the modern Cup and how the big local stables best think they can win it.
More and more of our trainers are using the world as their market place.
This time last year Freedman's team invited about 100 rich clients and their mates to lunch at a fancy city restaurant.
The pitch was that the well-to-do's scrounge up $1 million between them. Freedman's brother Anthony, stable vet Johnny Walker and one or two others would grab the cash and take it to the October Tattersalls horses in training sale at Newmarket in England.
The theory was that the hardiest, most Aussie-like, affordable European stayers were a safer gamble than forking out the same amount for untried, possibly hopeless, yearlings here.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
The pitch struck a chord with businessmen who'd become field shy with the risks of the yearling market, but saw a clear bottom line with horses who'd already proven they could gallop, albeit half a world away.
"The margin for error was less for these guys than buying a Zabeel at the sales and waiting three years to find out it was no good," Freedman said.
"Some blokes like a bit more surety with what they're buying. These horses we ended up buying might not have been world-beaters but at least they knew what they were buying."
The budget was set and so was the number -- six. The criteria was strict.
"They had to vet well, had to have good feet. We weren't looking for frail wet track English horses," Freedman said.
The sale was tricky with the horses only brought into the complex on the day itself.
"There were over a thousand of them," said Freedman, who did not make the trip.
The team bought six horses and spent the $1 million. It's at this time that Speed Gifted entered the scene.
He was too well performed to be on the Freedman shopping list and wasn't even for sale.
But the owner, who raced the horse with Luca Cumani and had caught Cumani's Melbourne Cup itch, transferred Speed Gifted to Freedman and he became the seventh member of the team.
The home trip was character building.
"If they could have talked they'd have said 'what the hell's going on here?' Freedman said.
"They cut off our extremities (gelded), took us out of the snow and dumped us somewhere where it's 125C. That's kind of how we came up with the Ball and Chain Syndicate. It seemed to fit. They must have thought they were convicts."
Bar for Speed Gifted, Freedman does not believe the rest of the squad will measure up to the spring cups, at least not this year.
But he has been impressed with their form, pleased with the exercise. Four of the six have won - Timetable, Trenchtown, Sound Of Nature and Woodcutter - another, Mastercraft, "ran a blinder" at his first run here.
Tomitoul Flyer, the most expensive (about $100,000), is injured.
"It will be a quantum leap for any of them to become Caulfield or Melbourne Cup horses but you really never know. Races like the Adelaide Cup are possible for sure," he said.
The Ball And Chain Syndicate reassemble for lunch today, at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne.
"It's a bit like one of those evangelical conferences - come yourself and bring a friend!" Freedman said.
The pitch will be the same as last year, with more room to move at the other end.
"We're still hoping to raise $1 million, but the money's worth more at the other end because the exchange rate has improved," Freedman said.
Freedman hasn't had a Melbourne Cup runner since Makybe Diva's three-peat win in 2005. "Who knows, my next might end up being one of these convict horses," he said.
Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Damien Oliver
Thoroughbred News NZ
Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver will ride his BMW Caulfield Cup mount Cima De Triomphe for the first time in a gallop at Sandown next week.
Charlie Henson, travelling foreman for trainer Luca Cumani, said today (Friday) it had not yet been decided which day Oliver would go to Sandown but it would possibly be Tuesday or Wednesday.
Henson said the work schedule for the highly-rated Cima De Triomphe and stablemate Basaltico was still undecided but Cima De Triomphe was likely to have only one fast gallop before the Caulfield Cup on 17 October.
“He did a good piece of work before he left Newmarket (England) and with the 36 hour trip to Melbourne he won’t need to do a lot before the Cup,’’ Henson said.
Cima De Triomphe has not raced since his fourth placing to Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (2012m) in Chicago on 8 August.
Henson said the five-year-old did not have much luck in the Arlington Million and the winner was now rated probably the best turf horse in the US.
Although Cima De Triomphe has not yet won beyond 2200 metres, Henson believes the handsome grey will not be worried by the 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup.
“I think he has to finish in the first eight in the Caulfield Cup to qualify under the distance clause for the Melbourne Cup,’’ he said.
Comparing Cima De Triomphe with stablemate Bauer, who was nosed out of last year’s Melbourne Cup, Henson said he was already a high class galloper while Bauer had arrived in Melbourne as a ‘’progressive handicapper.’’
As Bauer did last year, Henson said Basaltico would try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup by winning the Geelong Cup (2400m) on 21 October.
Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico had a light canter at Sandown today as did the Godolphin pair Kirklees and Crime Scene.
Kirklees and Crime Scene walked a lap of the course proper and then moved into a canter from near the 1000 metres to the winning post.
Travelling foreman Tommy Strang said they would probably do two canters tomorrow (Saturday) morning as they step up their work towards the Caulfield Cup in which Kirklees has 56kgs while Crime Scene will be kept for the Geelong Cup.
Whether Frankie Dettori rides Kirklees in the Caulfield Cup will depend on what commitments he has for Godolphin at Champions’ Day at Newmarket which is run the same day.
Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver will ride his BMW Caulfield Cup mount Cima De Triomphe for the first time in a gallop at Sandown next week.
Charlie Henson, travelling foreman for trainer Luca Cumani, said today (Friday) it had not yet been decided which day Oliver would go to Sandown but it would possibly be Tuesday or Wednesday.
Henson said the work schedule for the highly-rated Cima De Triomphe and stablemate Basaltico was still undecided but Cima De Triomphe was likely to have only one fast gallop before the Caulfield Cup on 17 October.
“He did a good piece of work before he left Newmarket (England) and with the 36 hour trip to Melbourne he won’t need to do a lot before the Cup,’’ Henson said.
Cima De Triomphe has not raced since his fourth placing to Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (2012m) in Chicago on 8 August.
Henson said the five-year-old did not have much luck in the Arlington Million and the winner was now rated probably the best turf horse in the US.
Although Cima De Triomphe has not yet won beyond 2200 metres, Henson believes the handsome grey will not be worried by the 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup.
“I think he has to finish in the first eight in the Caulfield Cup to qualify under the distance clause for the Melbourne Cup,’’ he said.
Comparing Cima De Triomphe with stablemate Bauer, who was nosed out of last year’s Melbourne Cup, Henson said he was already a high class galloper while Bauer had arrived in Melbourne as a ‘’progressive handicapper.’’
As Bauer did last year, Henson said Basaltico would try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup by winning the Geelong Cup (2400m) on 21 October.
Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico had a light canter at Sandown today as did the Godolphin pair Kirklees and Crime Scene.
Kirklees and Crime Scene walked a lap of the course proper and then moved into a canter from near the 1000 metres to the winning post.
Travelling foreman Tommy Strang said they would probably do two canters tomorrow (Saturday) morning as they step up their work towards the Caulfield Cup in which Kirklees has 56kgs while Crime Scene will be kept for the Geelong Cup.
Whether Frankie Dettori rides Kirklees in the Caulfield Cup will depend on what commitments he has for Godolphin at Champions’ Day at Newmarket which is run the same day.
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