Black Vanquish To Resume In Danehill Stakes

Trainer Tom Hughes has confirmed that talented colt Black Vanquish will return to the races in the 2015 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Black Vanquish will start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Black Vanquish will start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

Black Vanquish made his racing debut with an 11th place finish behind Of The Brave in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14 and he was given a freshen-up before he returned to racing with a dominant display in the Starlight Children’s Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on April 11.

The Lonhro colt was well-backed in the lead-up to the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m) at Caulfield on May 2 and he was galloped on during the run, but he was still able to tough out another win and earn a shot at Group level during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.

Black Vanquish showed that he was ready to return to the races when he produced a strong effort in a jump out at Flemington last Friday and Hughes told Racing Ahead that he could not be happier with the three-year-old ahead of the 2015 Danehill Stakes on Saturday.

“The horse has come up really nice,” Hughes said.

“He has had two jump-outs and we are very happy with him.

“He has really developed into a really nice horse, he is a kind horse, he is lovely to ride and he has a really good temperament.

“Everything has gone to plan and we couldn’t be happier with him.

“We will definitely accept for the Danehill.”

Black Vanquish has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), but Hughes is still unsure whether the three-year-old will be able to get over that distance as a three-year-old and he will wait until after the Danehill Stakes before he decides the exact path that his star galloper will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.

“We will make our mind up after Saturday,” Hughes said.

“It is one thing that we are not 100 percent with, but we will know where we are going after Saturday.

“I feel that he has come up very, very nice.”

Hughes is chasing his first win in the Danehill Stakes after previously missing the placings with the likes of Minnesota Shark (13th in 2008), Titanic Jack (fifth in 2002) and Delago Brom (seventh in 2002).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.