The 2014 Caulfield Cup will be the ultimate 2014 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Dear Demi and trainer Clarry Connors is hoping that she can win a couple of lead-up races on her way to the Group 1 event at Caulfield on October 18.
Dear Demi is set to return to the races in the Toy Show Quality at Royal Randwick on August 23. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Dear Demi was one of the most consistent stayers during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, finishing third in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21, third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and second in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 2, but was unable to record her first race win since she took out the Group 3 The Roses (2000m) during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
The losing streak of Dear Demi continued during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she was sent to the spelling paddock after failing to fire in both the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at the same venue a week later.
Connors told Sky Racing HQ that Dear Demi would be set for another tilt at the Caulfield Cup during her spring campaign and he is hoping that she can return to her best form when she resumes in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Royal Randwick on August 23.
“She is just beautiful,” Connors said.
“She trialed terrific last week and I am going to Hawkesbury with her on Monday.
“She is going to race in the Toy Show in a fortnight on Saturday.
“She has been nominated for the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup is her aim.
“We are going to try and pick up as many easy races as we can leading up to that and hopefully have her cherry rip on that day.”
Dear Demi has been included in the acceptances for the third barrier trial of the morning over 1000 metres at Hawkesbury on Monday and she will meet a couple of other Group 1 hopefuls.
Talented Kiwi entire Atlante joined the Team Hawkes stable at the end of his autumn campaign that was highlighted by a second place finish in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), while Scandiva has not been at the races since she failed to fire in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) last year, but could be set for races like the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Darley Classic (1200m) during her spring preparation.
Dear Demi is currently available at Caulfield Cup odds of $41 in the betting market at Ladbrokes Australia.
