Trainer John O’Shea acknowledges that Impending has had a great lead up as he heads to Melbourne for the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Impending, above, has had a great preparation for the Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
O’Shea kept Impending at home at Godolphin’s Osborne Park training complex outside of Sydney after his impressive win in the Group 2 $200,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 24 and the Lonhro colt has recovered from the run in great shape.
“He has had a great preparation this Spring and we have kept him at Osborne Park following his Stan Fox Stakes win,” O’Shea said.
As well as performing well on the racetrack, O’Shea has reported that Impending has handled his latest work well which included sessions galloping the Melbourne way of racing.
“He’s had three gallops the Melbourne way since his win and he has been very effective,” O’Shea said.
Impending will be having his first start over 1600m but O‘Shea is happy with his grounding for the step up to the mile following his three Spring Carnival runs, a first up third to his stablemate Astern in the Group 2 $175,000 MTA Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 27 followed by a third again to Astern in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10 before his Stan Fox Stakes win.
Impending has drawn awkwardly at barrier ten in the fourteen horse Caulfield Guineas field but that shouldn’t worry jockey James McDonald who will take up his customary position in the midfield.
“From the gate he is likely to be back in the field a little but this shouldn’t be a problem given his racing pattern,” O’Shea said.
“We’re happy with the way he is going and look forward to him arriving in Melbourne.
Impending is currently sharing favouritism for the Caulfield Guineas with the Team Hawkes trained Divine Prophet at $4.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Group 1 winning Kiwi three year old Sacred Elixir is next in the market order at $6.50 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Evacuation at $7.50 and James Cummings’ Good Standing at $8.50.
Market order for the Caulfield Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Impending, Divine Prophet, $6.50 Sacred Elixir, $7.50 Evacuation, $8.50 Good Standing, $10 Hey Doc, $13 Saracino, $19 Seaburge, $21 Wazzenme, $26 Revolving Door, Kaching, $41 Land Of Plenty, $61 So Si Bon, $151 Barbie’s Boy.
