Red Cadeaux this morning.
A quick update from down under…
I landed yesterday evening UK time, or 6am AEDT, and I was whisked from the plane door to Werribee to see the horses for the first time in over a month.
All three look in magnificent condition and Robin, Steve and Darkie have clearly done a superb job.
Most of you will have read that Red Cadeaux pulled off a shoe a few days ago, but that has caused us no problems whatsoever and he was due to have a rest day on Monday anyway given he galloped on Sunday. The shoe is now back on and the horse is happy and well.
So, too, is Trip To Paris who remains in fine form 10 days after his Caulfield Cup run. We have a week to go until the big one and everything is ship shape with both of our contenders.
Manndawi has also taken his Geelong Cup in his stride and we continue to deliberate about his next target.
Back at home we have one runner this afternoon with Naizah returning from a break in the mile and a quarter handicap. She isn’t the easiest filly to train but she has plenty of ability. On her runner-up effort at Chelmsford, which has been nicely franked since, she looks well treated off an opening mark of 75.
We think the step up in trip will suit – the bottom-half of her pedigree suggests it should – and that’s what Paul recommended we do when he got off her last time. She’s the least exposed runner in the field and we hope she will go very close.
The HIT Sale marathon began yesterday and we were delighted Red Galileo attracted plenty of attention, eventually being knocked down to Stroud Coleman Bloodsotck for 155,000 guineas. He is off to Dubai and should prove well suited by the style of racing out there.
Finally, congratulations must go to one of our lads, Eddie, who made his debut in the boxing ring on Saturday evening. And he did so with aplomb, beating a two-stone superior opponent on points in what I am told was a fine, tactical display. The first of many victories we hope!
Back tomorrow.
Ed.