Exciting Mark Kavanagh-trained import December Draw kicks off his spring campaign aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups when he resumes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.The Medecis six-year-old will be shooting for a hat-trick of Australian victories in the Chandler Macleod Hcp (1523m) having won both starts here, over 1600m and 2000m at Flemington in May.It will be the first time the gelding has raced over a distance shorter than 1600m."The horse's form is questionable going from May at Fleming
Exciting Mark Kavanagh-trained import December Draw kicks off his spring campaign aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups when he resumes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Medecis six-year-old will be shooting for a hat-trick of Australian victories in the Chandler Macleod Hcp (1523m) having won both starts here, over 1600m and 2000m at Flemington in May.
It will be the first time the gelding has raced over a distance shorter than 1600m.
"The horse's form is questionable going from May at Flemington to Group Ones in October-November," Kavanagh warned.
"But he did win his only two starts in Australia and the second one was pretty impressive."
After beating Under The Hat by a nose on May 7, December Draw took out a heat of the Banjo Paterson Stayers Series, beating subsequent Ipswich Cup winner Gold In Dubai by five lengths two weeks later.
"This race will kick him off into a nice program," Kavanagh said.
"But as a 95 rater, he's still got to qualify and he's never raced beyond 2000 metres so he has to be placed to take advantage of how he's going and where he is going.
"His target is to race in the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, but along the way there is certainly a lot of water to go under the bridge.
"He has 55.5kg on Saturday, but he's certainly going to have to do a little more to qualify so I have to get him into a ballot-free race."
The options for December Draw in the next few weeks include a 2000m-race at Flemington on September 3, the Naturalism Stakes, The Bart Cummings and the Herbert Power Handicap.
The winners of both the Naturalism and the Herbert Power are exempt from the Caulfield Cup ballot.
"We don't even know yet if he can go beyond 2000 metres. He's given that indication but he's never raced over further than that," the Flemington trainer said.
December Draw was purchased by Sydney hedge fund manager Richard Pegum who also bought My Kingdom Of Fife in the UK.
Prepared by Chris Waller, My Kingdom Of Fife has won three of his four starts in Australia including the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick and was runner-up in the Doomben Cup.
Michael Rodd will ride December Draw for the first time in a race on Saturday after Stephen Baster was on him at his past two starts.
Drawn in barrier 11 in the 12-horse field plus four emergencies, December Draw is $3.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Base and Carnero at $5.50, Pinnacles ($7.50), Dusty Star ($8) with first emergency Cabeza at $8.50 and Philda at $9.
December Draw is at $15 for the Caulfield Cup, $26 in the Cox Plate for which stablemate Whobegotyou is $7 favourite, and $17 in the Melbourne Cup.