McDonald to take proven path to Caulfield Cup with import
Imported galloper Bear Story is only weeks away from commencing his spring campaign after having a jump-out at Cranbourne last Monday.
An official 1000m trial at Cranbourne on August 7 will be the pre-cursor to Bear Story resuming in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.
After that it will be to Moonee Valley for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on September 9 followed by the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 23.
If successful in the Naturalism, Bear Story will head to the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield a week before the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
It was the program Grahame Begg used when Nonconformist chased home Incentivise in the 2021 Cup.
“He’s qualified for the Caulfield Cup, but we need to get his weight up a little bit,” Clinton Mcdonald said.
“I’ve spoken to the handicapper and our thought process is, run him in the Naturalism, hopefully win that and justify going to the 2023 Caulfield Cup.
“And if he doesn’t win, he’s not good enough.
“We’re taking the same program as Nonconformist did, and I think that sort of preparation is a nice one leading into a Caulfield Cup.”
A three-time winner in Ireland before coming to Australia, Bear Story had two runs at Flemington during the autumn.
McDonald said he was not disappointed in the horse during the autumn but disappointed with the luck the horse had.
“In his first run, we thought we’d have a look at him,” McDonald said.
“He drew wide, we went back on him, and it was a race where horses that got out wide, they couldn’t make ground.
“He drew another wide gate in Australian Cup, and we were going to go forward, but it didn’t work out as he got posted three-deep on speed and they went along at a good clip.
“We know he’s a very good horse and has good ability in what he has shown us at home. Everyone that rides him, all the best jockeys that have been on him, all like him.
“He’s going well and having those runs under the belt in the autumn is going to hold him well for this preparation.”
More Racing News
Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa share up for grabs
A share in last month’s Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa is being offered on Inglis Digital. The five percent share is one of the headline lots that form a Halo Racing unreserved reduction, offered on behalf of the late Colin McKenna, who died last month. Also up for grabs is five percent...
Despite rating, 2024 WA Guineas hope high for Andrews
As a three-time champion of the WA Guineas (1600m), top line trainer Trevor Andrews has a good handle on what it takes to win the Group 2 feature. Trevor Andrews will have two bites of the cherry at winning his fourth WA Guineas on Saturday and despite what the market says he...
Sydney form to pay off for trainer Chris Waller
To run or not to run is a question hanging over many stables as a heavy track presents itself at Doomben. The two listed race features – the Recognition Stakes and the Tattersall’s Classic – could yet be impacted by scratchings but it is in another race on the card where...
Cranbourne Cup 2024 wait and see for Maher quartet
The Ciaron Maher stable is still deciding which of their quartet of acceptances it will take up the challenge with in the Listed Cranbourne Cup. Three of the runners in Saturday’s 1600m contest are also among acceptances for the Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) on Sunday. Nugget, Cosmic Vega and Flash Flood have accepted for Kilmore...
Rey shooting for stars in The Meteorite
From the time two slot races were announced by Southside Racing, the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock stable knew they wanted to be a part of it. Griffiths was born and bred in the Cranbourne area and was one of the first to establish a barn at the Cranbourne Training...
Air of confidence surrounds Maher’s The Gong squad
Big Dance winner Gringotts is the clear top pick of Ciaron Maher’s squad for the $1 million The Gong, but the leading trainer won’t be surprised to see the horse’s biggest threat comes from of a stablemate. Gringotts had three-quarters of a length to spare over barn mate Vivy Air in the Big...
Dan Morton keeps faith with 2024 Railway Stakes mare
Trainer Dan Morton has shrugged aside Super Smink’s horror barrier draw and still thinks she can win the Group 1 Swan Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. A layer of complexity was added to Super Smink’s Railway Stakes bid after she was handed barrier 18, but Dan Morton is keeping the...
Timing right for Port Lockroy in G1 Railway Stakes bid
He’s one of five interstate raiders and the outsider of the quintet, but co-trainer, Rob Archibald believes there is a sense of timing about Port Lockroy in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. Rob Archibald, who shares training duties with Annabel Neasham, says Port Lockroy put himself into Railway Stakes...
Royal task for Gilded Water at local debut
A benchmark race on The Gong undercard will add some Royal flavour to the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting when a horse owned by His Majesty King Charles III makes his local debut. Four-year-old Gilded Water has been sent to Australia to continue his racing career, having started just four times in the...
Improving trio to fly flag for Godolphin at Kembla Grange
Godolphin doesn’t have a representative in The Gong, but James Cummings is content to rely on a trio of up-and-coming sprinters to carry the stable’s hopes at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting. Fleetwood will headline the leading yard’s squad when he resumes in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), while Pisanello and Restonica contest benchmark...
