3 minute read
A look at some of the races on the card at Caulfield.
Right call for Gear Up
The team behind Gear Up made the right decision in bypassing one Cup race for another.
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding was engaged to run in the Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Friday night as well as the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
The decision to run at Caulfield proved correct with the gelding scoring a short-half-head win over Mankayan.
Neasham's racing manager Rob Archibald said the decision to run on Saturday was made because the gelding was second-up.
"He was only second-up and we were just a little worried over the 2500 (metres) last night," Archibald said.
"It wasn't an easy decision, because we were really confident with the way he's going and the way he'd come on from that first-up run."
While the Pakenham Cup has been run and won, The Mornington Cup (2400m) next month could be on the agenda as it also provides the winner a berth into the Caulfield Cup.
"I'd say that's very much on the table, but I'd say the boss up there in Sydney will make that decision," Archibald said.
Sharper mare Waltz's on by
A fitter and mentally sharper Waltz On By has landed her fourth success in taking out The Mystic Journey (1200m).
Now a four-year-old, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare has always shown loads of ability and appreciated the rise to 1200m after a first-up second over 1100m at Flemington earlier in the month.
"She took great fitness improvement from that," Coleman said.
"She's a big, strong mare these days, so I think that run really brought her on nicely, but more importantly this preparation, mentally she's just so much better.
"She's a lot more tractable at home and her racing manners have really improved, so it's fantastic to see connections who have been really patient rewarded."
Lees makes right call with Brudenell
The decision to send Brudenell to Melbourne for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m) paid a dividend for connections.
Brudenell had also been an acceptor at Rosehill on Saturday in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) in which he had 3kg less.
But after a pleasing fifth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) last month, trainer Kris Lees made the decision to send the gelding to Caulfield.
The win provided jockey Mark Zahra with a winning treble for the afternoon after earlier wins aboard Bold Bastille and Pride Of Jenni.
Zahra said he spoke to Lees on Saturday morning who told him Brudenell may be suspect at 1200m.
"He said to have as cosier a run as possible," Zahra said.
"He's not as strong at 1200 (metres), but things turned out perfectly with the fence being off, I was able to conserve the energy and run down Maharba.
"He was good late, he was tough, and out fought Maharba."
Wolfy lands narrow win
Trainer Nick Ryan says he will have a 'board meeting' with the connections of Wolfy after his win in the Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1200m).
Dropping in grade to benchmark 70 level, Wolfy was taking on older horses having competed against his own three-year-old age group at Stakes level in his two previous outings.
Ryan thought enough of the colt to contest the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last spring in which he finished in the second half of the field.
He said Wolfy was still immature and will continue to improve with racing.
"We've had a high opinion of him," Ryan said.
"He ran in the Caulfield Guineas, and we're still sort of figuring out what his go is. I think 1400 (metres) might be the stretch of him, but we'll figure it out as we go.
"He's still got a lot of improvement to come, and I think he'll get through the wet. There are options in Sydney, so we'll have a Board meeting on Monday."
