Carlton House will campaign exclusively in Melbourne this spring en route to the $3 million Sportingbet Cox Plate, reports Racing Network. The Queen’s horse, placed in the Ranvet and Queen Elizaberh Stakes during a consistent Sydney autumn carnival, has been back in Gai Waterhouse’s Randwick stables now for three weeks.
Mark Newnham, racing manager for Waterhouse, says it’s likely that Carlton House will begin doing pace work this week.
Newnham said Carlton House would open his campaign in Melbourne, just as Fiorente did last year en route to the Melbourne Cup.
He said Waterhouse, currently in the UK where her recent purchase Cafe Society ran third in a listed race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot, is finalising where Carlton House will launch his spring assault.
Carlton House is a $9 chance for the Cox Plate in the sportsbet.com.au market, which has Japanese horse Just a Way as the $5 favourite.
Just a Way is extremely unlikely to accept the Moonee Valley Racing Club's invitation to contest the Cox Plate, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe his focus.
Golden Slipper winner Overreach, who suffered a small hind leg injury in the lead-up to her summer/autumn campaign, is due to resume pre-training shortly, more than likely with Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer, who broke her in.
“It’s been a bit frustrating, but she hasn’t lost her ability,” Newnham said.
Galiando, one of three Waterhouse-trained horses to win over the jumps this season, will contest the $100,000 Kevin Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool next Sunday.