Leading trainer Gai Waterhouse has confirmed that exciting stayer Fiorente is unlikely to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Fiorente will make his Moonee Valley debut in the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes this Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fiorente is currently considered one of the favourites for the $2.5 million handicap race but Waterhouse told Racing Ahead that she plans on running the import in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in the lead-up to the 2013 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The son of Monsun was allocated 56.5kg for the Caulfield Cup last week and although Waterhouse said that didn’t play a factor in her decision, it would leave Fiorente open to a Melbourne Cup weight of up to 58kg if he received a penalty for winning the Caulfield Cup.
“He is nominated and accepted for the Caulfield Cup with 56.5kg but I will probably go to the Turnbull and the Cox Plate with him,” Waterhouse said on RSN.
“You tell me an owner or a trainer that is ever happy with weight.
“I don’t think much about it otherwise you would never run your horse.”
Fiorente is set to have his second start of his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, after he finished an unlucky sixth behind glamour mare Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago.
Waterhouse said that Fiorente had come out of his first-up run in excellent condition and expects him to be a factor in the finish on Saturday.
“We worked him on the Monday and then again on the Wednesday and he really is thriving,” Waterhouse said.
“He is thumping his chest he is so happy.
“The other day (in the Memsie Stakes) he got a little bit hot under the collar, sometimes those colts can when they haven’t raced for a bit.
“He is a real staying type horse and he will be looking for every inch of the mile but he also has a lovely turn-of-foot.”
The Melbourne Cup is the major spring target for Fiorente and he is aiming to become the first horse since Empire Rose in 1988 to win the race after finishing second the year before.
