The well preformed Kiwi filly Eleonora is set to join a host of stablemates when she returns to Melbourne to contest the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21.

Eleonora, above in green and yellow colours, will head to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Eleonora, above in green and yellow colours, will head to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Eleonora will accompany Sydney Autumn Carnival classic winners Jon Snow and Bonneval to Melbourne for the 2017 Spring Carnival and all three could line up in the rich 2400m Caulfield Cup.

“Eleonora’s only had the 10 starts, won three and missed a place only once and that was when she got held up badly,” Baker told the New Zealand Racing Desk.

“It’s just all about keeping them sound and happy until they get on that plane later on in August.

“They will all be looking at the Caulfield Cup.”

Jon Snow claimed the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 1 while Bonneval took out the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick a week later.

The consistent Eleonora showed her class during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and then fought on bravely to the line to run third to the tearaway leader Lasqueti Spirit in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.

Eleonora had two runs at Ellerslie in New Zealand during the Autumn this year for a second in a 1500m Handicap at Ellerslie followed by a win in the Group 3 NZ$70,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m).

Baker will have a great chance of claiming his second Caulfield Cup trophy with his strong team of four year olds after taking out the 2400m staying feature for the first time with Mongolian Khan in 2015.

Baker expects his Spring Carnival team to arrive in Melbourne in plenty of time to kick off their Caulfield Cup campaign in either the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2 or in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.

“There’s also the Memsie Stakes for them to kick off or the weight-for-age mile (G1 Makybe Diva Stakes) a week later at Flemington,” Baker said.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.