Caulfield Guineas On The Agenda For Dal Cielo

Co-owner Bruce Perry has revealed that talented Kiwi two-year-old Dal Cielo will be set for the 2015 Caulfield Guineas during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Leading New Zealand trainer Murray Baker is chasing another major piece of silverware in Australia with Dal Cielo. Photo by: Steve Hart

Leading New Zealand trainer Murray Baker is chasing another major piece of silverware in Australia with Dal Cielo. Photo by: Steve Hart

Dal Cielo was sent to Australia for the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick after he took out the Group 1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 7, but he returned to New Zealand without a race start following after he was injured in the lead-up to the race.

The Per Incanto gelding was sent to the spelling paddock following the mishap, but he is now back in work under the care of trainer Murray Baker preparing for another trip to Australia.

“He has recovered well and at this stage will target the Caulfield Guineas in the spring,” Perry said in a statement.

“He arrived back in the Baker/Forsman stable yesterday in great order after a well-deserved break at Blandford Lodge.”

Dal Cielo made his first public appearance as a racehorse when he won a barrier trial over 600 metres at Avondale on September 23 last year and he made his racing debut with a second place finish behind Jacquetta in the Nzb Ready To Run Sale Stakes (800m) at Riccarton Park on October 25.

Baker elected to give Dal Cielo a brief freshen-up and he scored his maiden race win in the DHL Two-year-old Stakes (1100m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day before he made his black type racing debut with an unlucky third place finish behind Liam Birchley-trained Hardline in the Listed Karaka Million (1200m) at the same venue on January 25.

Punters did not miss the luckless run of Dal Cielo in the Karaka Million and he started the Diamond Stakes as favourite before he cruised to a comfortable victory from Battle Time and Rocanto.

Murray Baker has an outstanding record with three-year-olds in Australia and he took out the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) with Mongolian Khan at Royal Randwick during The Championships earlier this year, but he has never had a runner in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

No New Zealand-trained runner has won the Caulfield Guineas since Graeme Rogerson-trained Econsul beat the likes of Barely A Moment, Fastnet Rock, Swick and Dane Shadow to win the 2004 edition of the race.

The 2015 Caulfield Guineas will be held at Caulfield Racecourse on October 10.

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.