Group 1 winner Complacent has not been seen at the races since he stormed home late to finish second in the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), but trainer John O’Shea confirmed that the Authorized entire was nearing a return to racing.
2013 Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent has not been seen at the races since the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Complacent stamped himself as one of the most exciting staying prospects in Australia when he took out the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but he suffered a strain to a tendon at pastern level in his near fore that has kept him away from racing ever since.
O’Shea revealed that Complacent had got close to a return to racing during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he told Racing Ahead that the rising five-year-old will be included in the entries for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 if he is able to make a successful return to the races.
“He has had some soundness issues, but we are really happy with him,” O’Shea said.
“He is going to have a trial Friday week and it is not as if he has been convalescing in his whole time off since the Victoria Derby, he has had a number of successful preparations in the stable where we have been more than happy with what he did.
“We got him up and going late in the autumn, but the only race left was the All Aged Stakes and it would have been a waste of time giving him a barrier trial there.
“He is a talented horse and if he was to get going and get going well then we would put him in all the features.”
Complacent made his first public appearance at a racetrack since his brave Victoria Derby effort when he finished sixth behind Rebel Dane, Lucky Lago and Tiger Tees in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on March 12 and he impressed onlookers with his effort when second behind Arabian Gold in a barrier trial over 1200 metres at the same venue on March 27.
Fame Game remains on top of the 2015 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes at a quote of $13 from Complacent’s stablemate Hartnell ($17) and Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan ($17).
