Damien Oliver has rides in the three Group 1s at Caulfield on Saturday, but it’s his mount in one of the support races on the program that creates the most interest. The champion hoop will be reacquainted with Fiorente in the $220,000 Group 2 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (1800m).
Oliver combined with the Gai Waterhouse-trained import for a famous victory in last year's Emirates Melbourne Cup, his third win in the race that stops a nation, and said he is excited about getting back aboard on race day.
“It’s great to have him back and I couldn’t have been happier with how he worked in his track gallop at Flemington last Saturday,” Oliver said.
“His fitness isn’t a query and the horse is really well.”
Drawn in barrier five, Oliver said the six-year-old’s versatility means he can be ridden either forward or back in the field depending on the early tempo.
Originally set to resume in Saturday’s $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m), in which Oliver will partner Waterhouse-trained stable mate Bull Point, Oliver said the extra distance suits Fiorente’s program.
“The Australian Cup (2000m) is his main goal in Melbourne this preparation and I think Gai just felt that 1800m was a better option than the 1400m going to 2000m in two weeks time,” he said.
“He’s a European stayer and 1400m was probably going to be too short for him.
“A mile (1600m) probably would have been great but the 1800m doesn’t concern me and I think it’s a nice race for him particularly coming off a Melbourne Cup preparation.”
The Peter Young Stakes will feature another Melbourne Cup winner with 2012 champion Green Moon also resuming.
Found to be lame when well beaten behind Fiorente on the first Tuesday in November last year, he is currently rated a $10 chance with TAB behind Fiorente at $2.10, Pakal at $5, Star Rolling at $5.50 and last year’s Peter Young victor Foreteller at $6.
Currently 12 wins clear of his nearest rival Glen Boss in the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership, Oliver has a strong book seven rides at Caulfield on Saturday.
Though he will also partner Jabali in the $1 million Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Spirit Of Boom in the $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Bull Point appears the pick of Oliver’s Group 1 mounts.
An impressive winner of the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) first up at Caulfield, Oliver said the three-year-old son of Fastnet Rock has done nothing but please the stable since coming to Melbourne.
“He worked really well with Fiorente the other day and every time we apply the blinkers to him it really switches him on,” he said.
“I’ll sit down with Gai and we’ll work out a plan of attack, but he’s shown he’s versatile and that’s a good bit of firepower to have in your armoury.
“I think 1400m looks perfect for him second up and I think the 1400m to a mile (1600m) will end up being his best distance.”
Bull Point is currently rated the $3.20 Futurity Stakes second favourite behind last-start C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) winner Moment Of Change at $2.60, with Sizzling at $6.50 and Polanski at $9.50 also in the betting.
Oliver confirmed that at this stage the plan was for Bull Point to back up in next week’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (160m) at Flemington where he will likely clash against a stellar line up including Shamus Award, Hucklebuck, Eurozone, The Quarterback , Prince Harada and Polanski.
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Click here to view the full field, form and barriers for Caulfield on Saturday