2014 Cox Plate contender Carlton Houseis set to take part in an exhibition gallop between races at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Carlton House was narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory by Silent Achiever in the Ranvet Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Carlton House has not been seen at the races since he finished a tough third behind It’s A Dundeel and Sacred Falls in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 19, but he has been back in work for almost two months as he begins preparations for his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign that is set to include a tilt at both the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 1.
The Queen Of England-owned entire joined the Waterhouse stable at the end of 2012, after being prepared by Sir Michael Stoute in the United Kingdom and made his Australian racing debut with a 13th place finish in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 30 last year.
Carlton House missed the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival due to a number of niggling issues and made his return to racing in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 8 before finishing second in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1.
The Street Cry entire was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and he took up the running in the early stages of the race and battled on bravely to only be narrowly denied a maiden win at Group 1 level by Silent Achiever.
Carlton House will gallop over 1200 metres after race three, while stablemates Sweet Idea and Diamond Drille will work alongside each other over the same distance after the second race.
Sweet Idea scored a narrow win in a barrier trial over 1050 metres at Royal Randwick last Friday and is set to return to the races in the Group 3 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9.
Diamond Drille impressed jockey Tommy Berry with her performance in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick last week and the Al Maher mare is working towards the start of her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign that will include the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 1.
Carlton House is currently a narrow favourite in the 2014 Cox Plate betting market with Ladbrokes Australia and is available at a quote of $9.
