Fawkner Park gets a look at Caulfield racecourse
Caulfield Cup favourite Fawkner Park has been given his first look at the track where the Group 1 race is set to be held.
The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained galloper had his first look at Caulfield on Tuesday as part of his build up to the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.
Fawkner Park heads the market at $11 with betting apps ahead of Derby winning recently turned four-year-olds Riff Rocket and Warmonger, both at $13 with bookies.
Neasham, who was at Caulfield on Tuesday to watch Fawkner Park go through his paces, said the gelding arrived in Melbourne late last week and will get plenty of opportunities of galloping at Caulfield in preparation for one of Australia’s toughest handicap contests.
Fawkner Park has raced only once left-handed since making his Australian debut in May last year, finishing fourth in the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington in March.
Following that outing, Fawkner Park went on a winning spree, claiming the Albury Cup, the Wagga Cup before running third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.
Fawkner Park leapt to the top of markets for the Caulfield Cup after claiming the ‘win-and-you’re-in’ Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The Q22 was won last year by Without A Fight who went on to claim the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
Neasham said the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21 was likely to be Fawkner Park’s Spring starting point.
“He’s just got to get used to going left-handed and we thought it was a good opportunity to bring him here and have a look around,” Neasham said.
“He’s only had one trial, so he’s got another trial to go before we see him at the races and the more I give him a look around here, the better.
“He might come back for a jump-out next week. The jump-outs are only over 800 metres, which is a bit annoying, so we’ll have to run through right through the line.
“He won’t be wound-up first-up, it’s all about the Caulfield Cup for him to be peaking and the Underwood will be a nice starting point for him.”
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...