|
Queensland Derby winner Lachlan River served notice he was a genuine Caulfield Cup hope with his resounding victory in the Traveltrain Holidays Hcp (1630m) at Doomben on Saturday.
However, trainer John Morrisey refused to get carried away with the four-year-old's performance and will stick to original plans to give him another run over 1800 metres at Eagle Farm in a fortnight before tackling the Group One Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 8.
Lachlan River has been nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and was allotted 51.5kg in both races.
Morrisey's only Caulfield Cup runner was Camarena who finished 14th to Diatribe in 2000.
"Camarena also won the Queensland Derby but had a wide alley in the Caulfield Cup and was never on the track," Morrisey said.
"Hopefully Lachlan River will get to the Caulfield Cup but I've been around long enough not to get too carried away."
Morrisey is not concerned with the unorthodox preparation to keep Lachlan River campaigning in the north while the big runs shoot it out in Sydney and Melbourne.
"He's fitter now than he was before he won the Queensland Derby," Morrisey said.
"He wasn't entitled to win the Derby here as he was only in work three months and 11 days before he won it.
"I only gave him three weeks' break after the Derby and he's now had two runs back so he's quite fit now."
Morrisey was relieved Lachlan River had taken no harm from an insect bite which set him back after his first-up third at Doomben on August 20.
"He was pretty sick and sweating badly after he was bitten on the hind leg. He missed several days work but I'm glad he's over it now."
Meanwhile, old marvel Consular will head south for the Group Three Cameron Hcp (1400m) at Newcastle on September 14 following his brilliant win in the Richmond Grove Hcp (1200m).
Consular ($6), carrying a massive 62kg, powered home for 1-1/4 length win over Messiaen ($4.40) with Panzer ($9.50) a short neck away third.
"He's a nine-year-old but he doesn't know it and bounces around like a five-year-old," said part-owner Bill Mumford.
© 2010 Published 03/09/05
|
