With the taste of spring well and truly in the air, Saturday shapes to be a crucial day of racing with the OTI silks being strongly represented in black-type races in both Victoria and New South Wales.
With the Melbourne Cup only five weeks away, the Group 3 Bart Cummings Stakes is one of the last chances to gain a golden ticket into the great race on the first Tuesday of November. OTI holds a strong hand, with Athabascan and Amade both taking their place in this year’s addition.
Now into his third preparation on Australian soil, Athabascan has been in career best form following two dominate stakes victories over 2400m in NSW. Jumping from barrier 14, with James McDonald in the saddle, the John O’Shea trained 5yo should relish the spacious Flemington track as well as the 2510m. The sudden rise to form from Athabascan has been most enjoyable for his owners and we are confident that if he brings his current form on Saturday, he will be featuring in the finish.
Athabascan winning the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill
Enigmatic globetrotter Amade will line up alongside Athabascan in the Bart Cummings on Saturday. The 10yo veteran has drawn gate 5, with Zac Spain aboard. He pleased us with his first up run at Flemington and there is no doubting that he will appreciate stepping out in trip. The Adelaide Cup placegetter has been gifted a soft draw, and if the old boy can find some luck at the right time it wouldn’t shock us to see him running on late and being in contention.
Click here to view the Bart Cummings field details as they currently stand.
Progressive 3yo Ruminate is a dual acceptor at both Moonee Valley and Flemington. Trainer Matt Cumani has insisted that the gelding should improve as he gradually looks to step him out over more ground. The Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington has come up a strong contest. If Cumani elects to go that way, we will find out if Ruminate has the ability to be competing at stakes grade this spring. He has trained on well from last outing and the 1800m looks the ideal next step, however the 1600m restricted race at The Valley on Friday shapes as a ‘more winnable’ opportunity.
Cepheus is proving to be one of OTI’s more consistent horses. The 7yo has missed the top five just once since returning from a tendon injury. Cepheus has accepted to run in the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill and, while not carrying black type, is a race worth $1.5m. Nash Rawiller looks to continue his close affiliation with the flashy chestnut, and from gate two, he maps to get a run that should once again see him fighting out the finish. Cepheus holds a slot in the Big Dance, a 3-million-dollar race run on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick.
Click here to view field details as they currently stand for the Alan Brown Stakes.
Cepheus saluting in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes
Hezashocka has accepted in the G2, $2m Hill Stakes. Following an uncharacteristic poor performance in the Naturalism Stakes, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr elected to bypass the Turnbull Stakes in a quest to get him back into the winner’s stall. Hezashocka is no stranger to running clockwise, finishing 4th in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, behind Dubai Honour and Anamoe in the autumn. The inform Zac Lloyd has taken the ride and Hezashocka is expected to turn the tables on his last outing and give us a strong sight.
Click here to view field details for the Hill Stakes as they currently stand.
Best of luck to all connections!