Renew has been included in the 2015 Sandown Cup field and the tough stayer has the chance to record back-to-back wins in the Listed event at Sandown on Saturday.
Renew scored a narrow win over Like A Carousel in the 2015 edition of the Sandown Cup. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Renew recorded his maiden race win in Australia when he took out the Sandown Cup last year and he has been an inconsistent performed in the 12 months since his narrow victory.
The Dansili gelding finished a close third in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 9 and he was sent to the spelling paddock after he beat home just a single runner in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Renew started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival with a flat effort at Moonee Valley on September 5 and he beat home just a single runner in the Listed Harry White Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on September 26 before he produced a strong staying effort to finish fifth behind Let’s Make Adeal in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington on October 4.
He produced another credible performance in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21, but he was never able to get into the race when 13th in the Bart Cummings Tribute Handicap (3200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Trainer Archie Alexander said that he has been relatively happy with the form of Renew and he is hopeful that the step-up to 3200 metres for the 2015 Sandown Cup will help the grinding stayer settle slightly closer to the speed in the early stages of the race.
“The horse is in similar form and he is very well,” Alexander said.
“Just looking at the rough field it looks a strongest race than last year, but the horse is in good form and obviously he receives a lot of weight from them.
“He ran really well in The Bart Cummings to be fifth behind good horses like Our Ivanhowe and we were chuffed by that and he was ok in the Geelong Cup, but it was a disappointing run in the Melbourne Plate.
“He got back a bit far and as an older horse he needs to be switched on and in the hunt because when he gets too far back he tends to just give up.”
Renew is currently available at 2015 Sandown Cup odds of $19 with Ladbrokes, while Almoonqith ($4.80) is a narrow favourite from The Offer ($5.50), Grand Marshal ($7.50) and Maygrove ($7.50).
