Osborne Bulls’ charge towards securing the Godolphin slot in the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 has been delayed after trainer James Cummings decided against trialling the six year old at Randwick today.
Osborne Bulls, above in royal blue colours, is aiming to secure a slot in The Everest 2019. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Cummings had originally scheduled the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 7 as Osborne Bulls opening account for the 2019 Spring Carnival but the five times Group 1 placegetter will now be aimed towards the Group 2 $500,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 21.
A tweet from Godolphin said that Osborne Bulls wouldn’t be ready to compete in the Concorde Stakes and his Spring Carnival starting point has been put back a fortnight.
“G1 sprinter Osborne Bulls will bypass this morning’s trials at Randwick and will head to the trials on 10 September. The G3 Concorde Stakes has come a little too early for him and he will now target the G2 The Shorts at Randwick on 21 September.” Godolphin tweeted.
Osbourne Bulls was down to trail this morning against Everest contenders Sunlight and Classique Legend who finished first and second in the 1000m heat.
Osborne Bulls ran a terrific race last year in The Everest when a closing third behind Redzel and Trapeze Artist and has been runner up at Group 1 level at his last five starts.
Osborne Bulls’ run of Group 1 placings started during the 2019 Autumn Carnival with two seconds down the Flemington straight in the $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and in the $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Cummings then directed his attention to Sydney where Osborne Bulls found the runner’s up stall twice at Randwick in the Group 1 $2.5m Aquis T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Osborne Bulls latest run before heading to the paddock saw him go down narrowly again when runner up to The Bostonian in the Group 1 $800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Slots for the 2019 The Everest that have been allocated are Chris Waller Racing – Enticing Star, The Star – Arcadia Queen, Yulong Investments – Redzel, Max Whitby – Sunlight, TAB – Santa Ana Lane, Aquis – Pierata, Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing – Classique Legend and Inglis – In Her Time.
In early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au, Osborne Bulls is on the second line at $7 behind multiple Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane at $5.
Pre-post betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Pierata, Classique Legend, $9 Sunlight, $11 Libertini, $12 Arcadia Queen, Alizee, $13 In Her Time, Nature Strip, $14 Enticing Star, Redzel, $17 Graff, $21 Yes Yes Yes, $26 Zoustyle, $31 Cascadian, Hot King Prawn, Home Of The Brave, Mr Stunning, $41 or better the rest.
