Trainer David Hayes is confident classy import Almoonqith will figure as a serious Cups contender when he returns to competition during the forthcoming 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.
Almoonqith will be set for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups upon resuming in spring. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Almoonqith immediately made an impact upon debuting to Australian racing during last year’s edition of the Spring Carnival; finishing a credible sixth in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) in only his third start on September 19th.
Progressing to seventh in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) a fortnight later, the Dynaformer entire produced a particularly slick effort deliver a classy field a thrashing in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21st, but was completely luckless when eighteenth in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Proving he is more than capable of getting the trip when taking out the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) with ease less than a fortnight later, Almoonqith continued to impress through a short autumn campaign this year, highlighted competitive performances for sixth in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) and fifth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Hayes told Racing Ahead he is confident the rising seven-year-old will return to racing an even greater chance of success in spring, and will be set for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
“Almoonthqith for sure (is Hayes’ best Cups horse), he was very good in the spring last year winning the Geelong Cup and winning the Sandown Cup,” Hayes said.
“And just got back to last in the Melbourne Cup, got in a lot of trouble like a lot of the horses in the Cup and was denied his chance.
“He didn’t go in the wet tracks in Sydney, but he’s a dry tracker and on his day, he’s pretty good.”
Almoonqith has posted a commendable six wins and four minors through only twenty-seven career starts, since debuting to racing in France in 2012.
A particularly strong performer during two preparations for Mike De Kock in the Middle East, Almoonqith claimed a number of standout results including a win in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy (2810m) most notably.
Almoonqith is currently available at 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $41 in early markets at Ladbrokes Australia.
