Bittercreek on song for G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes assault
The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin stable is banking on a call to target a shorter Group 1 race for three-year-olds with Bittercreek will pay off on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
After scoring at Moonee Valley last Saturday in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes, Bittercreek showed Troy Corstens that he was back on target for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
As a two-year-old, Corstens had his eyes set on the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with Bittercreek after the colt was showing early promise in short-course races.
Corstens reasoned the son of Snitzel with age and maturity would appreciate the mile trip.
But after a late autumn – early winter campaign in Queensland, Corstens reassessed those thoughts and switched his attention to the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Current leading Melbourne rider Blake Shinn was instrumental in helping Corstens with those plans after partnering Bittercreek in three starts in Queensland, including when second to Broadsiding in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“I had a good conversation with Blake Shinn who was riding Bittercreek at the time after we ran in the J J Atkins and ran second,” Corstens said.
“Blake suggested that Bittercreek didn’t get the mile, so that really set the tone where we wanted to go in the spring.
“I changed my mind and thought that we would concentrate on the Coolmore instead of the Guineas and hopefully I’ve done the right thing.”
The decision to aim for the Coolmore allowed Bittercreek more time in the paddock in the Queensland warmth before preparing for his return in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 5.
Corstens was planning on having just that run as a lead-up to the Coolmore, but Bittercreek performed below par that day on a track softened by rain.
“In hindsight I’m glad he had the run in the Red Anchor as well,” Corstens said.
“He carried more weight than the others and he really attack the line which I thought was terrific.
“Back on top of the ground was the key and I think he’s ready to go in the Coolmore.”
More Racing News
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...
Jason Collett hoping to find Express lane in The Gong
Jason Collett is resigned to the fact that he will be more reliant on luck than good management as he tries to coax another win out of Territory Express in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange. The Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor in the autumn, Territory Express has a get-back racing pattern...
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...
Mark Walker aims for ‘new’ hometown Cranbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Walker has a good record when in form New Zealand gallopers land in Australia. Walker’s latest ‘import’ is It’s A Wild Night who will have his first Australian outing in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday. It’s A Wild Night arrived at Walker’s Cranbourne base just over a week ago...
Railway Stakes 2024 timing perfect for Baker’s Bel
In-form mare Belclare will need to overcome a wide alley to land her first Australian Group One win in the Railway Stakes at Ascot, and connections believe Nash Rawiller is the perfect man for the job. A two-time victor at the highest level in New Zealand, Belclare joined the Sydney stable of Bjorn...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood chasing Fortune in The Meteorite
Gavin Bedggood hopes the decision to take Oscar’s Fortune to Cranbourne for a midweek gallop will pay off handsomely on Saturday. Oscar’s Fortune runs in the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m), a new ‘slot race’ that Southside Racing, a merged entity of the Cranbourne and Pakenham Clubs, runs for the first time. The former...
John Stewart eyes Melbourne with 2024 Japan Cup fancy
Goliath faces one of the toughest tasks in racing this weekend, beating the Japanese at home in their biggest race, but John Stewart is already planning his next moves with his star recruit and Australia is on the itinerary. The ambitious American has quickly become a powerful investor in Australian racing and...
Hedged poised to give The Warra rivals a trim-up
The Magic Millions carnival is the campaign focal point for promising sprinter Hedged, but trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping he can knock off a feature race along the way. The gelding will resume in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday, his first start...
