Trainer Gai Waterhouse believes that the Group 2 $220,000 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday is a winnable race for Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.
Fiorente and Damien Oliver winning 2013 Melbourne Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Fiorente is having his first start since winning last year’s Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November and Waterhouse has no concerns about the six year old running 1800m first up.
“I think it will be a winnable race and it’s a good stepping stone for him. The Australian Cup is his one target down there,’’ Waterhouse told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve been unbelievably impressed with the way he has come back. He worked between races on Saturday and it’s just so exciting. Ask the Victoria Racing Club how many people would have went to the races on Saturday just to see him work?
Fiorente’s Melbourne Autumn Carnival campaign will target the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 8 before heading back to Sydney to tackle the rich weight for age races on his home turf.
“I’d love to see him in the Queen Elizabeth back up here, and races like the Ranvet and The BMW would be right up his alley,’’ Waterhouse said.
The Group 1 $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 19 is high on the agenda for Fiorente who will follow a weight for age path throughout the Autumn.
The Group 1 $500,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 22 slots in nicely after the Australian Cup before stepping up to the 2400m of the Group 1 $2.25m The BMW at Rosehill on April 5.
Fiorente looked in great order as he galloped with stablemate Bull Point down the Flemington straight in between races on Saturday.
Damien Oliver was reunited with Fiorente in the gallop after the combination took out last year’s Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington and Chad Schofield was in control of three year old Bull Point who shaded the older galloper on the line.
“They’re both in great order, they both went super,” Oliver told AAP.
“Bull Point as you’d expect is close to his top and Fiorente hasn’t raced yet, so there was a lot take out from both of them.”
Schofield was happy with the effort of Bull Point to match it with the Melbourne Cup winner down the Flemington straight.
“My horse had the fitness edge, but Fiorente is a proven top-class horse, so it was a good effort by both of them,” Schofield said.
Waterhouse had also given Fiorente a solid barrier trial hit out over 1300m at Randwick on January 31 as part of his Autumn Carnival preparation.
Robert Hickmott has nominated 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon for the Peter Young Stakes as well as last year’s Sydney Cup winner Mourayan.
And leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has also enter Group 1 winner Foreteller and French import Bayrir.
