Rich Enuff was unlucky to be ruled out of the 2015 Autumn Carnival in Sydney through injury, but trainer Ken Keys is confident the talented colt is nearing full fitness ahead of a Spring Carnival campaign likely to be geared towards Group 1 sprints.
Rich Enuff is reportedly in great condition ahead of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Stamping his claims as one to watch through a stand-out Spring Carnival campaign in 2014, Rich Enuff has not been seen at the races since fading for a disappointing seventh in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on November 1st.
Having been struck down with a nasty ligament injury in the lead-up to his autumn return, Keys has been thrilled with the conditions of the Written Tycoon gelding through recent weeks and is confident he will lay a great account for himself at the highest level this time.
“At this stage I couldn’t be happier with him and we’re aiming to have him trialling around the end of July,” Keys told Racing Victoria.
“He looks sensational. I think a lot of his problems came about through the turnaround time between the spring and the autumn being too quick.
“When you look at the horse now he’s what I imagined he was going to become. He’s big and strong and relaxed where as in the autumn he was tight and hadn’t let down properly.”
Yet to confirm a specific path for the rising four-year-old through spring, Keys believes Rich Enuff may be at his best in races contested under a mile; underlining features like the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26th as likely targets.
“I’m very mindful that it’s a long spring and we want to be there through right through the spring,” Keys said.
“I’d imagine the Rupert Clarke will be on his agenda but whether or not he’s ready in time for a race like the Memsie Stakes, I don’t know.
“It may be an option but we won’t be rushing anything, it will be a preparation solely on our terms. When he’s ready we’ll race him.
“I genuinely haven’t opened the calendar yet, I don’t want to plan anything until I see how he trials.”
“I think he’s vulnerable at a mile. It’s not necessarily that he doesn’t run it but it’s more that his racing style puts himself under too much pressure.”
Running third in a Moonee Valley minor over 1200m on debut before immediately returning to the paddock, Rich Enuff returned last win for consecutive wins in each of the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) before running a close second to Shooting To Win in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11th.
