Quickly building to the task over four starts during his maiden Australian campaign in spring, trainer Archie Alexander has revealed classy British import Renew will target the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 9th upon returning to competition this season.
Renew will be set for the Group 2 Adelaide Cup upon his 2015 racing resumption. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
Securing a commendable race record of four wins and five minor places over his 17 start career to date, Renew began his racing tenure under the guidance of trainer Marco Botti before transferring to the care of Alexander partway through September.
Thrilled with the form and class displayed by the son of Dansili in a track gallop alongside stable mate Only A Pleasure at Ballarat on Sunday, Alexander told Racing Victoria Renew will begin his autumn campaign in a Flemington race over 2000m on January 31st.
“They galloped over a mile, it was just a nice routine bit of work,” Alexander said.
“Only A Pleasure led and Renew sat behind him a couple of lengths and joined in at about the 500 to run and they just finished head-to-head both hard held.
“They had a nice blowout and it’s just what Renew needed and he’s going to head to a Flemington race in 12 days’ time.”
Running 12th in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) in his Australian debut before placing sixteenth in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18th, Renew found exceptional form to close out the season in finishing second in a minor over 2800m and winning the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on November 15th.
Having put on substantial weight over his short time away from racing, Alexander believes a month and a half will allow ample time to prepare Renew for the Adelaide Cup.
“He’s still a bit heavy now but 12 days away from the race and that’s only his starting point,” he said.
“We still have a month-and-a-half, two months to the Adelaide Cup, which is plenty of time to get that 10–15kgs off.
“It’s not his big day (January 31st); he’s a two-miler and we are starting off at 2000m, I think 2000m is a happy medium.”
Transported to Australia by renowned syndicate OTI Racing with a view towards long-term staying success, Renew was initially confirmed to transfer to the care of leading trainer Chris Waller following his 2014 spring campaign however will remain in the care of Alexander following his impressive Sandown Cup triumph.
