Kiwi mare a Positive 2024 Caulfield Cup hope
Positivity raced her way into next month’s Caulfield Cup with a win in Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield.
The Andrew Forsman-trained mare secured the coveted ballot exemption when she got her head down at the right time in one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the 2000-metre Group 3.
The daughter of Almanzor was 55th in order of entry to the Caulfield Cup prior to the MRC Foundation Cup and the Forsman stable is now excited about the build-up to the $5 million Group 1, in which she was given 50kg at Tuesday’s release of weights.
“Yeah, that’s a pretty incredible feeling,” Forsman stable representative Chloe Cumming said moments after securing a start in the Caulfield Cup.
“She’s been super in her work coming into this and she looks amazing, and so to see her get it on the line is pretty incredible.”
“She’s come a long way since autumn and she’s just been thriving since she’s been over here.
“She’s been loving it, so it’s been really good.”
Popular jockey Harry Coffey drove Positivity to a short-head win after making full use of an inside alley to give the mare a charmed run behind leader Just Fine.
Positivity ($16) got the verdict over Future History ($18), who finished a nose clear of Gear Up ($12), while Saint George ($4.80) was just a short-head further back in fourth position.
Positivity was aligned to Challenge in the MRC Foundation Cup, earning that cancer charity a $20,000 payday, which Coffey was delighted to play a role in and is keen to stay associated with the mare, even if it means having to skip a few meals between now and October 19.
“I suppose, she’s going to get in with no weight – I might have to get on the brown rice diet to ride her – but all you can do is win and that’s what she’s doing, so she’s going the right way,” Coffey said.
Positivity will be striving to join Jameka, who is the only other four-year-old mare to have won the MRC Foundation Cup since it gained a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption in 2007, as the only horse to win both races.
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