Orr Stakes An Option For Entirely Platinum

Co-trainer John Hawkes has revealed that promising stayer Entirely Platinum is a chance of returning to racing in the 2015 Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 14.

Entirely Platinum could return to Group 1 level in the 2015 Orr Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Entirely Platinum could return to Group 1 level in the 2015 Orr Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Entirely Platinum was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished eighth behind Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, but he is edging closer to a return to racing and Hawkes told Racing Ahead that a race at Sandown on February 7 and the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) were both potential options for the Pentire gelding.

“He is perhaps a touch more forward,” Hawkes said.

“He is having a jump out at Flemington on Friday and pending how he comes through that he could run the following Saturday at Sandown or the following Saturday in the Orr.

“We will just see how he jump outs on Friday and how he comes through that.”

Entirely Platinum stamped himself as a horse to watch when he took out the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he was set for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) during his spring campaign.

The progressive stayer started his campaign with a comfortable win in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16, but he produced a most disappointing performance in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and he finished at the tail of the field.

Entirely Platinum returned to his best form when he finished a close second behind Gris Caro in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 20, but that was not enough to secure a start in the Caulfield Cup and he was sent to a break following his fair effort in the Turnbull Stakes.

Another talented galloper that is progressing well at the Melbourne stable of Team Hawkes is Nostradamus.

Nostradamus looked set for a big spring when he took out the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16 in impressive fashion, but he was plagued by wet tracks in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) and the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) before he was caught in the wrong part of the track in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Hawkes said that Nostradamus had no luck whatsoever throughout his spring preparation, but he is happy with the progress that the Medaglia D’Oro colt has made this preparation and revealed that he is less than a month away from start his autumn preparation.

“He is in the Melbourne stable and he is coming along tremendous,” Hawkes said.

“His form was excellent last time in; albeit last start he was on the wrong side of the track and it was just a bit of a nothing type of race the way it was on the day, but he has come back great.

“He will be ready to step-up and trial in the next couple of weeks.”

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.