For all the Mark Walker stable cares, it could rain non-stop between now and Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.
Their charge Cinturato would love heavy ground.
The Bureau of Meteorology has only forecast up to 3mm of rain ahead of the Caulfield meeting but heavy dews and cool conditions should ensure the track will be soft for Saturday’s Selangor Turf Club Handicap (1400m).
That’s good enough for Cinturato, who thrived in heavy conditions when a comfortable last-start winner at Warrnambool earlier this month.
“The wetter the better for him. He’s a mudlark and loves the wet.,” Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne representative Ben Gleeson said.
“But in saying that, I think we’ve found the right race for him and we’ve found his niche with the headgear on and running over 1400m.
“We’d be happy if the track even went up to a Soft 5.
“He just needs that little bit of cushion in it.”
Cinturato showed ability in the spring, finishing only 2½ lengths from the winner in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude last September, but has won two of four starts in easier races this time in.
Gleeson said the son of Shamus Award had been in work for some time but could continue to be a great money-spinner for connections through the winter.
“We think he’s the ideal winter profile horse,” Gleeson said.
“He has been up a while now but if we keep sticking to the routine of freshening him up, we could make hay while the sun shines through the winter then have him in the paddock maturing when the tracks firm up.
“If he can go and win a third race for the preparation, be it this race or later in the preparation, it’s a pretty good prep for any horse.”
Cinturato is a $16 chance to score from barrier 13 on Saturday.
The above article is written by Brad Waters and posted on Racenet.