HIGHLY REGARDED imported horse Speed Gifted has yet to qualify for next month's Caulfield Cup but trainer Lee Freedman's determination to chase a start has not wavered following a luckless run in yesterday's Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield, reports Andrew Eddy in the Sunday Age.His report adds: Speed Gifted, who was made $9 second favourite for the Caulfield Cup after winning at his first two Australian starts, was forced back to 14th on the home turn yesterday after a slow beginning but finished
HIGHLY REGARDED imported horse Speed Gifted has yet to qualify for next month's Caulfield Cup but trainer Lee Freedman's determination to chase a start has not wavered following a luckless run in yesterday's Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield, reports Andrew Eddy in the Sunday Age.
His report adds: Speed Gifted, who was made $9 second favourite for the Caulfield Cup after winning at his first two Australian starts, was forced back to 14th on the home turn yesterday after a slow beginning but finished fourth, within a length of the winner Red Lord, in the 2000-metre race. As the winner of the group 3 race, Red Lord is now free from any ballot for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup on October 17.
''I thought it was a very good run but at the end of the day, he didn't further his cause for the Caulfield Cup,'' Freedman said. ''I've got the option of taking him to Sydney [for the Metropolitan] or stay here for the Turnbull Stakes in two weeks and we'll go to one of those races. I thought his run was very good, as they crawled and he straightened up nearly last and was beaten a length. If he had drawn better [than barrier 18] it may have been a different story as he [jockey Dwayne Dunn] didn't have much choice at the start.''
The Red Lord camp was rejoicing as the six-year-old has secured a Caulfield Cup run. Before yesterday, he was anchored down in equal 43rd position for a start. He has 51 kilograms but is liable for a possible penalty from chief handicapper Greg Carpenter for yesterday's win.