Anders’ Coolmore hopes rest on Caulfield gallop
Maher and Eustace to cast eye over exciting sprinter before committing to Group 1 start
An important track gallop at Caulfield will determine whether high-priced stallion prospect Anders (Not A Single Doubt), whose spring campaign has been derailed by an elevated temperature, will start in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
The sharp sprinter, whose stud value skyrocketed following back-to-back stakes victories in Sydney in August and saw Widden Stud hold out rival farms to secure the colt for stallion duties, missed the A J Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) due to the setback and he was also subsequently beaten in the three-horse Blue Sapphire Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) won by Ranting (Zoustar) earlier this month.
Co-trainer David Eustace, still rightfully basking in the glory of Saturday’s Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) success with European import Sir Dragonet (Camelot), yesterday revealed that the stable would not commit to a start in the $1.5 million Coolmore until assessing how Anders galloped on his home course tomorrow.
“He had a tough run (in the Blue Sapphire) so he had an easy few days after Caulfield, understandably, but he appears to have bounced back well,” Eustace told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“There will be a fairly crucial piece of work on Tuesday and how he comes through that will determine whether he goes on to the Coolmore but that is certainly the plan at this stage.
“The ability is there and it’s just getting him to show that on race day and being able to get him in tip-top order (to be able to do that).”
Anders had raced eight times in NSW and Queensland before heading to Victoria for the Blue Sapphire and Eustace is confident that the Flemington straight course would suit the $670,000 Magic Millions graduate.
“His racing style is to be sharp early and then he does relax mid-race quite nicely and I would hope that would actually suit straight racing,” he said.
“Quite often, they jump and look at each other, but if he is off and gone – and I am not comparing him to Nature Strip in any way – that style down the straight can often be fairly lethal.”
Stablemates Muntaseera (I Am Invincible), who was runner-up to Swats That (Shamus Award) in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield on October 10, and last-start Bill Stutt Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) third placegetter Holyfield (I Am Invincible) could also join Anders in the Coolmore.
In a compressed market, Anders is an early $7 chance behind September Run (Exceed And Excel) ($5), Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) ($6), Swats That ($6) and Wild Ruler (Snitzel) ($6.50).
One Ciaron Maher and Eustace-trained three-year-old who is certain to line up at Flemington on Saturday is staying prospect Let’s Karaka Deel (Dundeel) who will contest the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) at his fifth start in his first campaign.
The lightly raced Flying Start Syndications-owned colt was runner-up to Albarado (Savabeel) in the Caulfield Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) at his most recent start, a performance that convinced connections to press on to the Derby.
“We thought he was the best horse in the race at Caulfield and circumstances were that he didn’t win, but he will definitely stay,” the Melbourne-based trainer said.
“Whether it’s just that little bit too soon for him we’ll see, but as it often is, I think the Derby has got three or four (genuine chances) in the race and then there’s a long tail, so he’ll be very competitive, I’m sure.”
Eustace labelled Let’s Karaka Deel as “an exciting horse” who was relishing having his races spaced and not being overworked on the training track.
“He’s a Dundeel and they improve with a bit of time and they don’t need a lot of racing physically and mentally,” he said.
“They are talented horses … and from our experience, it’s later on when they are really at their top.”
Following on from the stable’s success at the two-day Moonee Valley extravaganza, Eustace and Maher’s focus has switched to the four-day Flemington carnival and the former confirmed that Sir Dragonet would run in the $7.75 million Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m).
“He’s a fit horse who pulled up incredibly well after the race and he’s good this morning, so we will go into the cup with a bit of confidence,” he said.
“Even before the race we felt that if it was going to be fast ground and a bit of a sit and sprint race, then he might just lack that little bit of toe, but when the rain came, that filled us with a lot of confidence because he really excels on it.
“There was a nice solid tempo, which we thought there would be, so we started to get more and more confident as the day wore on.”
Three-year-old Grandslam (Myboycharlie), who set the pace in the Cox Plate, will be spelled while Eustace indicated that Saturday’s impressive Inglis Banner (RL, 1000m) winner Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) would race on this preparation.
The $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on November 7 looms as the most likely target while the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Sandown a week later is also a possibility.
“She has still got options for this preparation as she won the race on the back of just a jump out over 650 metres, so we haven’t been hard on her,” Eustace said.
“She has shown plenty of talent and, as a result, she looked like she was still coming up yesterday and her coat is still coming through.
“She has always been very, very natural but this prep she has really improved in the past month.
“It’s amazing how much she has improved – and two-year-olds can do that, obviously – but she looked like being an autumn type last prep, then she spelled at Rosemont and came back a different horse. It’s all ahead of her, for sure.”
As for Grandslam, the younger brother to Maher’s Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Jameka, Eustace said: “He’ll have a break now. He has done a lot and he has come a long way this prep and he’s obviously had two solid runs now (in the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate).
“He’s done a great job and he’ll be better in the autumn and as a four-year-old as his sister was.”