Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan is among the early nominations for the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Mongolian Khan, above, is among the nominations for the The BMW at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
With only twelve horses nominated for the 2400m staying test, the Australian Turf Club has extended the nomination deadline until 11am on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.
The Murray Baker trained Mongolian Khan looks likely to back up again this week after running fifth to The United States in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
The Holy Roman Emperor four year old was only having his second run back since suffering a severe colic attack after winning the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
At his first run back Mongolian Khan finished eleventh, seven lengths behind Winx in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27 and will find the 2400m of The BMW more to his liking.
The 2400m has proven to be Mongolian Khan’s favourite distance and as well as winning the Caulfield Cup, also won the 2015 Group 1 NZ$750,000 TV3 NZ Derby at Ellerslie and the 2015 Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby at Randwick over the mile and a half staying test.
Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller has nominated four for The BMW, Grand Marshall, Preferment, Storm The Stars and Who Shot Thebarman.
English import Storm The Stars could also back up after failing to beat a runner home in the Ranvet Stakes last week while Preferment will appreciate the step up to 2400m after winning the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 on protest.
Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshall finished third and fifth behind Sir John Hawkwood in the Group 3 $350,000 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 12 and both will be better suited over the 2400m o The BMW.
Trainer David Vandyke has nominated Sky High Stakes winner Sir John Hawkwood and the step up 2400m will also be in his favour.
The Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig have entered Almoonqith and Rising Romance who will both head to Sydney after kicking off their Autumn Carnival campaign in Melbourne.
Rising Romance stuck on well when third to Preferment in the Australian Cup while Almoonqith finished at the tail of the field in tenth spot.
Trainer John O’Shea has entered Arab Dawn and Magic Hurricane.
Arab Dawn was a winner two starts back in the Listed $125,000 Pacific Hoists Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 20 before running fourth in the Listed $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m) at Canberra on March 6 while Magic Hurricane was a last start sixth in the Sky High Stakes.
Three year old Montaigne is a surprise BMW entry after trainer Anthony Cummings threw in a nomination following his second to Tarzino in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Early BMW market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Preferment, $4 Our Ivanhowe, $7.50 Mongolian Khan, $8 Rising Romance, Who Shot Thebarman, $10 Grand Marshall, Montaigne, $12 Almoonqith, $18 Magic Hurricane, Storm The Stars, $21 Sir John Hawkwood, $26 Arab Dawn.
