Perspiration to prevail in wet conditions, tips Maher
By Ray Hickson
It’s been a stop-start preparation so far for Ciaron Maher’s stakes-winning colt Perspiration, but favourable conditions will see his autumn finally get underway at Warwick Farm today.
Perspiration has been scratched from a number of engagements recently due to dry tracks, something he won’t strike in the Buy An Arrowfield Yearling Handicap (1000m).
Leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher.Credit: Getty Images
Maher’s assistant trainer, Johann Gerard-Dubord, said while the three-year-old hasn’t been seen publicly since he beat Gatsby’s in the Heritage Stakes at Rosehill in September, he’s been kept up to the mark.
“He’s very ready to go,” Gerard-Dubord said. “We didn’t trial him because the tracks have been too dry. He’s been at Bong Bong so he’s done plenty, he works up in the hill in deep sand every day. He’s as forward as we can have him going into a race.”
Perspiration is nominated for the group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) on day two of The Star Championships, but that’s an unlikely target due to the later-than-planned start to the campaign.
Zac Lloyd rides the colt and Gerard-Dubord said he doesn’t face an easy task with 61kg first-up, but a wet track will allow him to produce something like his best.
“Obviously 61kg for a three-year-old against older horses isn’t easy but it looks the right starting point,” he said. “He is very well but he will improve on what he does. It’s a starting point but he is sharp and when he does get those wet tracks he has a very good turn of foot.”
Linwood defied a betting drift to win on debut at Warwick Farm back in July on a heavy track and she’ll line up in either the Vinnie – Three Time Champion Sire Handicap (1200m) or head to Wyong on Thursday.
Gerard-Dubord said the win at her first outing was a bonus and she appears to have strengthened up with the benefit of some time in the paddock.
“It kind of surprised us on the day the way she finished off,” he said. “So we put her away to give her a chance to mature, waiting for the right time of year when the tracks have a bit of give and for the benchmark races post carnival.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Hawkes could give Nepotism crack at Sires
Craig Kerry
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was not ruling out a run in the group 1 Inglis Sires (1400m) for exciting colt Nepotism on Saturday at Randwick after his dominant win in the group 3 Baillieu at Rosehill on Tuesday.
An unlucky third in the Todman Stakes (1200m) on debut, Nepotism came from a midfield sit to finish over the top of Savvy Hallie in a one and one-third length victory.
Hawkes has Federalist in the Sires and said Nepotism could join him if he pulls up well.
“He’s a proper colt,” Hawkes said. “There’s the Sires this Saturday, but we do have the mile [Champagne Stakes] coming up, and he looks like he’ll relish the mile.
“But he’s only a baby, it’s his second start, he’s a group winner now and he’s a valuable colt going forward.“
Nepotism is the first group winner for sire Brutal.
Ceolwulf scores in last run before Queen Elizabeth
Craig Kerry
The performance, not the winning margin, was the focus for trainer Joe Pride after Ceolwulf hung on in a three-way photo-finish in the group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) as the $1.55 favourite on Tuesday.
The star four-year-old, which is heading to the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 12, was expected to dominate the Sellwood but held on by the slightest of margins from Just Fine and Our Gold Hope.
Pride hoped Ceolwulf would trim up with more work after presenting “a little bit big” on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t really the result that counted today - it is easy to say that after a race - but it is more about the performance,” Pride said.
“He presented like he was going to win by a couple of lengths but he didn’t do that. He had a big weight on testing ground and jumping up 500 metres, he’ll take nice [progression]. I wanted a good hit out for him over 2000 metres, and he certainly got that.”