Damein Oliver’s Spring Carnival Group 1 bookings are looking stronger and stronger and now includes the David Hayes trained import Jet Away in the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19.
Jet Away blue and white,winning the Easter Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Oliver secured the ride on Melbourne Cup co-favourite Fiorente after Sydney’s leading jockey Nash Rawiller was sacked after finishing fourth to Happy Trails in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday.
And the four time Caulfield Cup winner will ride the Tony Vasil trained Prince Harada who is one of the top fancies for Saturday’s Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Ferlax for trainer Jim Conlan in the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jet Away made a belated start to the Spring Carnival and will go into the Caulfield Cup second up after finishing a luckless first up seventh to Happy Trails in the Turnbull Stakes.
Jet Away was having his first run since winning the Group 3 $150,000 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield in March and was mentioned on several occasions in the stewards’ report running into trouble.
Stewards reported that Jet Away was on the receiving end of interference between the 1600m and the 1300m and was also severely checked over the concluding when Nick Hall moved out on third placegetter Fawkner causing interference.
Daniel Moor, who rode the English import in the Turnbull, was pleased with the effort considering it was his first run back in pretty tough company as well as getting a checked run.
“It was quite good considering he hasn’t had a lead-up run,” Moor told Racenet.
Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil has brushed aside a wide barrier for Prince Harada in the Caulfield Guineas and is expecting it to be to his advantage.
Prince Harada has drawn twelve out of fourteen and expects Oliver will have no problems in keeping the hulky three year old out of trouble.
“He won’t get boxed in that’s for sure. It’s the total opposite of the last two runs,” Vasil told Racing and Sports.
“He’s a tall horse, long action and the trip is a positive.”
“Being the last race, getting out wide could well help. A touch of rain won’t hurt either.”
Jet Away is currently a $13 chance for the Caulfield Cup which has the Chris Waller trained pair, Hawspur ($4.50) and Royal Descent ($7) the top two in the market order.
While Prince Harada is on the second line of betting at $4.20 for the Caulfield Guineas behind the Peter Snowden trainer Long John at $3.80.
