Trainer Michael Moroney has revealed that talented sprinter African Pulse will return to the races for the first time since being gelded in the 2014 John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
African Pulse has not been seen at the races since he failed to fire in the Bob Hoysted Handicap at Flemington in March. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
African Pulse started his 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing campaign with a credible fourth place finish in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 1, but he failed to fire in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 and the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at the same venue on March 1.
Connections made the decision to geld African Prince at the end of his disappointing campaign and Moroney believes ‘the ultimate gear change’ has had a positive effect on the son of Johannesburg after he impressed in two jump outs in recent weeks.
“He has had a couple of jump outs at Flemington and he has gone extra well,” Moroney told AAP.
“He’s been gelded since we saw him last.
“He’s not in well at weight-for-age but he likes Caulfield and seems to be going well.”
African Pulse has produced five wins from his 14 career starts and has generally produced his best form fresh; with the five-year-old scoring all five of his wins first-up.
The talented galloper made his racing debut win a win in the Premier Sings Handicap (1000m) at Sandown on May 11 and scored an impressive win in the Schweppes Tonic 1000 (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in 2011.
African Pulse returned to the races with a win in the Bennson Mackinnon Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield in January of 26 and was far from disgraced at Group 1 level in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before returning to winning form, after a brief stint in the spelling paddock, in the J Colwell and B Singh Handicap (1000m).
After a lengthy stint away from the races, African Pulse maintained his unbeaten first-up record with a win in the Bert Bryant Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield on March 30 last year, but he had his first-up winning streak ended when he finished fourth behind Shamal Wind in the W.J. Adams Stakes at the start of his autumn preparation.
African Pulse is set to face a talented field in the John Monash Stakes this weekend; with Le Bonsir, Lord Of The Sky, Nearest To Pin, Ready To Rip and Riziz included in the nominations for the Group 3 event.
