Sertorius is set to contest the 2015 Geelong Cup tomorrow and trainer Jamie Edwards believes that his star stayer is ready to perform at his best in the Group 3 event.
Sertorius has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Geelong Cup. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Sertorius returned to the races with a credible tenth behind Boban in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 and he produced an somewhat flat performance in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at the same venue on September 26 before he hit the line fairly to finish sixth behind Amralah in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 10.
The Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 has always been the major 2015 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Sertorius, but Edwards told RSN this morning that the son of Galileo is ready to hit his peak in the 2015 Geelong Cup.
“He has been set for the Melbourne Cup, so we are fair dinkum as of now,” Edwards said.
“He has been running in races that probably haven’t suited him.
“I was a little bit disappointed with his ride last week, he wasn’t put in a position where he could be competitive, but his sectionals this time in have been outstanding.
“He is fit, healthy sound and well, who will go as good as he can go.”
Sertorius ran pleasing closing sections in the Herbert Power Stakes, but Edwards was unhappy with the ride that was given to the eight-year-old by jockey Ryan Maloney as he wanted to see him ridden closer to the speed.
Edwards said that Sertorius produced his best form when he is ridden just behind the leaders in the early stages of his races and he revealed that Maloney will be instructed to press forward in the early stages of the 2015 Geelong Cup.
“He missed the start and then went straight to the fence after I said I wanted him as handy as he possibly could,” Edwards said.
“The difference was probably Hughie Bowman, he was right next to us in the run and Hughie left himself in a position where he could roll forward, while we were buried second last on the fence with nowhere to go.
“He sits in the first three or four and regardless of what races we put him in, not many horses run past him in the straight.
“If he is back he tends to hammer home from midfield and we think that is ok, but when he wins he is in the first three or four and runs the same kind of sectionals.
“He needs to be in the first three or four.”
Sertorius is currently available at 2015 Geelong Cup odds of $13 with Ladbrokes, while Dandino ($3.30) is now a dominant favourite from Quest For More ($4.80), Guardini ($7.50), Bonfire ($10) and Orbec ($11).
Don’t miss out on the Geelong Cup Special that is on offer with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote Or Starting Price +20% on every single runner in the Group 3 event.
