Amorino will face the toughest test of his racing career to date in the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but trainer Archie Alexander is confident that the talented sprinter is up to the task in the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Amorino will return to Group 1 racing in the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Amorino made his racing debut in Perth under the care of Grant Williams, but he has gone to another level since he joined the Alexander stable and he finished his autumn campaign with three wins in the Group 3 TAB Rewards Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 7, the Listed My Kitchen Rules Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) at Caulfield on April 18.
The Snitzel gelding returned to the races with a more than credible fifth place finish in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 12 and Alexander believes that the six-year-old took plenty of improvement out of the run ahead of the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes this weekend.
“I am very happy,” Alexander said.
“We have had a pretty smooth start to the prep and I thought that his first-up run was good considering he is a Group 3 winner against Group 1 horses like Lucky Hussler.
“We were just beaten a neck by Lucky Hussler for fourth and I thought that he ran well.
“He is in very good order.
“He is similar order to then (when he won three races from four starts) and he is at his winning weight.
“1400 metres is his go and that is why whatever he did in the Bobbie Lewis, we weren’t going to lose too much sleep over because 1200 is a nice kick-off and we always knew this was our main objective.”
While Alexander is delighted with the physical condition of Amorino, he admits that the Group 3 winner will face a tough task in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as he has to give weight to a number of talented horses, but he remains confidence that the gelding is not without a winning chance in the Group 1 event.
“He has a really good chance, but by no means am I thinking that he is the one to beat,” Alexander said.
“There are a lot of horses that are very good and are carrying less weight than him and they might be a bit deeper into their preparation because we are only second up.
“He is incredibly well and if he gets a bit of luck he will be right there.”
Amorino is currently available at 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds of $21 with Ladbrokes, while Disposition ($4) is a clear favourite from Under The Louvre ($6), Stratum Star ($7), Lucky Hussler ($11) and Charmed Harmony ($11).
