Star colt Denman has raised the bar for his showdown with Cox Plate winner So You Think in next month's Australian Guineas with a dominant win in the Listed Wellington Racing Club Stakes at Caulfield.The Lonhro three-year-old showed on Saturday he had trained on from his first-up Zeditave Stakes win, leading from start to finish in the 1400m feature and coasting home 3-1/4 lengths ahead of multiple stakeswinner and Caulfield Guineas runner-up Carrara.Denman was relaxed as he controlled the race
Star colt Denman has raised the bar for his showdown with Cox Plate winner So You Think in next month's Australian Guineas with a dominant win in the Listed Wellington Racing Club Stakes at Caulfield.
The Lonhro three-year-old showed on Saturday he had trained on from his first-up Zeditave Stakes win, leading from start to finish in the 1400m feature and coasting home 3-1/4 lengths ahead of multiple stakeswinner and Caulfield Guineas runner-up Carrara.
Denman was relaxed as he controlled the race out in front and his trainer Peter Snowden knew that the colt's eighth win from 10 starts was in the bag a long way from home.
"I don't want to sound cocky but I was confident (he would win) when they went 100 metres," Snowden said.
"Once he led they weren't going to get past him."
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said Denman felt faultless and he took the initiative to lead when Nash Rawiller on Carrara decided on a more conservative approach.
"I thought Nash might lead but I was happy to let him (Denman) roll to the front and he relaxed when he got there," McEvoy said.
"He had an easy time of it the first half and sprinted home really well."
Snowden could have run Denman in Saturday's weight-for-age Orr Stakes (1400m) but he decided not to risk giving him a "gut-buster".
He said he was "pleasantly surprised" with how well Denman looked at Caulfield but added he was yet to peak this campaign.
He said that the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in two weeks would be his last run before the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 6.
"I feel the preparation he's had has been as good as I can give him," Snowden said.
"He has got to prove to us he can get a mile but he's in good order and I'm feeling confident we can have him perfect come Guineas day.
"If he gets beaten we will have no excuses."
So You Think, who led all the way in the Cox Plate, also has the Australian Guineas as his target.
While he has not raced since finishing second in the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November, Bart Cummings last week said he was progressing well.