Leading jockey Craig Newitt is hopeful that two-time Group 1 winner Foreteller can recapture his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival form when he contests the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.
Foreteller narrowly defeated Puissance De Lune to win the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Foreteller arrived in Melbourne with stablemate Hawkspur on Monday morning and according to trainer Chris Waller the experienced traveler handled the trip down to his Flemington stable well.
Newitt has been booked to continue his association with Foreteller and told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he believes that the son of Dansili is capable of adding to his growing Group 1 tally.
“He will be having a jump out on Friday morning and then he kicks off in the Orr Stakes,” Newitt said.
“He looks to have come back really well and hopefully he can recapture some of his spring form.
“He will be a chance in anything that he runs in.”
Foreteller was the most consistent weight-for-age performer in Australia throughout 2013 and raced well during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The imported galloper started his 2013 Melbourne Festival Of Racing campaign in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield and took out the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at the same venue before finishing seventh in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Foreteller returned to Sydney to breakthrough for his maiden win at Group 1 level in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens and overraced when fifth behind Fiveandahalfstar in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m).
He was taken to Queensland for the winter and flashed home late to finish second after being caught wide throughout the race in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast and was narrowly denied a second Group 1 win in the Doomben Cup (2000m) a fortnight later.
Foreteller returned to the races with a eight place finish in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 24 and upset Puissance De Lune to win the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington before having no luck when 12th in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
The consistent performer returned to his best form with a second behind place finish behind glamour mare Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and ran home strongly to finish fourth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, but had no impact when seventh in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Foreteller will be Waller’s second ever runner in the Orr Stakes after Honor In War finished tenth behind El Segundo in the 2007 edition of the race.
