Trainer Gai Waterhouse has revealed that Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente is a good chance to return to Melbourne and contest the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) in the autumn.
Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente is expected to return to Victoria for the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fiorente is now in the spelling paddock after his impressive 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, which was highlighted by his victories in the Melbourne Cup and Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) as well as his tough third place finish in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), and Waterhouse is already plotting future plans for the son of Monsun.
The leading trainer, who is embarking on a tour around New South Wales with the Melbourne Cup trophy, told Sky Racing HQ that Fiorente would receive a healthy stint in the paddock before returning to her stables to begin preparations for Group 1 racing during the autumn.
“He is out at the farm and he is having a lovely time,” Waterhouse said.
“He is enjoying himself immensely and he thought that it was very nice to go out there after winning his Cup.
“He will stay there about six weeks and then he will come back.
“There is every chance that he will go back to Melbourne for the Orr and the Australian Cup.”
The Queen’s horse Carlton House beat Fiorente in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick in August but did not make it to the races during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Carlton House has been in Australia for almost a year and had only one race start, in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), and Waterhouse said that the Street Cry entire had taken a while to get used to Australian racing conditions but would be ready for the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival.
“It sometimes takes a few preparations just to get them completely how I want them and Carlton House has been one of those horses,” Waterhouse said.
“He is probably the most beautiful natured horses of any of the English horses that have come out.
“He is such a kind horse and he is so willing to get on with the job but he had a few personality problems.”
Fiorente will join Jeune (1995) and Saintly (1997) as the only horses to have won the Orr Stakes after winning the Melbourne Cup the previous spring, if he is successful in the Group 1 in the autumn.
