KIRKLEES (Jade Robbery) was eye-catching at Sandown Thursday morning when
Godolphin jockey Kerrin McEvoy partnered the consistent bay, moving off from the
1,400 meters and allowing him to stride home over 1,200 meters in 1:16, with his
final 400 meters coming in :24. The Italian highweight juvenile of 2006 is on
course for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1).
“It was good work and I think he has improved since the Caulfield Cup
(Aus-G1),” McEvoy said of Kirklees, who was wide throughout before finishing
seventh in that October 17 contest.
Kirklees will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who is seeking his first
Melbourne Cup after 11 previous attempts. McEvoy will partner CRIME SCENE (Royal
Applause [GB]), a disappointing sixth in the Geelong Cup (Aus-G3) October 21.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, set to arrive Friday, has yet to decide
whether the Crime Scene will wear blinkers in the Melbourne Cup.
The Lloyd Williams-owned EFFICIENT (Zabeel), who shares the top line of
ante-post betting at A$6.50 alongside VIEWED (Scenic [Ire]) and country-trained
ALCOPOP (Jeune), is an uncertain starter in Tuesday’s Cup.
Racing Victoria stewards ordered veterinary examinations on three horses at
the Macedon stables of trainer John Sadler and, while C’EST LA GUERRE (NZ)
(Shinko King) and ZIPPING (Danehill) were passed fit for racing, a question mark
remains over Efficient, hero of the 2007 Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria reported
that the stable was managing a recurring injury in Efficient’s right foreleg,
and noted the gelding had raced successfully despite the condition, capturing
the Turnbull S. (Aus-G1) at Flemington last out on October 3. However, Racing
Victoria veterinarians will assess the gray before he is allowed to take his
place in the field.
Trainer David Hayes has brushed aside concerns about a less than impressive
gallop at Sandown by recent import CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (Montjeu [Ire]), a last
start sixth in the St. Leger (Eng-G1) after over-racing in the feature at
Doncaster September 12. The former Aidan O’Brien trainee, second in the Ebor H.
two starts back, was sold to a group of Hayes’ clients. It was anticipated he
would start in the Mackinnon S. (Aus-G1) Saturday, but the entire suffered a
hoof abscess 10 days ago.
Changingoftheguard galloped with the Herman Brown-trained MOURILYAN (Ire)
(Desert Prince [Ire]), who left Changingoftheguard three lengths in arrears over
the line. Hayes pointed out that Mourilyan had worked over a much shorter
distance and had more in reserve, and he told stewards the horse had not missed
any work due to his hoof problem.
“Trackwork isn’t everything, and I expect him to be racing midfield in the
Cup,” he said, adding it was important that jockey Glen Boss would be able to
settle the stayer and avoid him racing fiercely.
The classy Kiwi DAFFODIL (No Excuse Needed [GB]) has recovered well from a
deep cut sustained to just below her knee when a game fourth in the Caulfield
Cup — an effort that saw her Melbourne Cup quote trimmed from 20-1 to 14-1.
“It was a deep cut that swelled up, but she is excellent now. You can hardly
see it at all,” trainer Kevin Gray said of his first Melbourne Cup runner. “We
gave her a few days off and put her on light duties, but it was not so severe
that you could not work her. She has trained on well and we are very pleased
with her.”
Daffodil opened her Group 1 account in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas
(NZ-G1) last November, and added the A.J.C. Australian Oaks (Aus-G1) at Randwick
April 18 to her record. She came back to take the Windsor Plate (NZ-G1)
September 19 before finishing fourth in the Kelt Capital S. (NZ-G1) at Hastings
October 3.
Bart Cummings will bypass the Mackinnon with Cox Plate (Aus-G1) victor SO YOU
THINK (High Chaparral [Ire]) in favor of the Emirates S. (Aus-G1) November 7.
The famed conditioner said he wanted to give the sophomore time to recover from
his Moonee Valley exertions.
Well-fancied Melbourne Cup hope Viewed, aiming for back-to-back wins in
Tuesday’s big race after scoring the Caulfield Cup, will again use the Mackinnon
as a launching pad.
Cummings also has Toorak H. (Aus-G1) winner ALLEZ WONDER (Redoute’s Choice),
rated 25-1 at present, and Caulfield Cup runner-up ROMAN EMPEROR (Montjeu [Ire])
— on the second line of ante-post betting at 10-1 — as certain starters in the
Cup.
The “Cups King” aims to secure a berth for either DANDAAD (Istidaad) or NAVAL
ESCORT (Montjeu [Ire]) by running both in Saturday’s Lexus S. (Aus-G3), a race
whose winner is exempt from ballot.