August is the start for many horses embarking on their spring campaigns.
The Spring Racing Carnival is often the time a racehorse will rise to prominence. Over the last few years we’ve seen Weekend Hussler emerge in 2007, Shocking in 2008, So You Think in 2009, Black Caviar in 2010, Dunaden in 2011 and last year Ocean Park, who claimed the W.S. Cox Plate.
So now the countdown begins to finding the next horse who can rise to fame through the Spring Carnival.
The following are the first five horses of a list of 10 I’ve come up with who could rise to prominence this spring.
1. Cruden Bay
Career: two starts for two wins; three year old colt; trainer: Anthony Freedman
Lightly raced colt who has been very impressive in two starts – his last run saw him win the St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley, where he completely dominated from the front to romp in.
On that night he defeated a quality field of two year olds and he did it with ease but the win has seemed to go unnoticed in the mainstream media.
Cruden Bay will most likely be kept to sprinting distances, with races like the Danehill Stakes (7th September) and Coolmoore Stud Stakes (2nd November) both at 1200 metres down the Flemington straight.
2. Prince Harada
Career: two starts for two wins; three year old colt; trainer: Tony Vasil
One of the boom horses going into the spring. While he hasn’t beaten much in two starts it’s the matter in how he’s won that has been quite exciting.
In his first start he powered to victory in a Ballarat Maiden and in his second start he came from well back to win at Moonee Valley.
His wins have been nothing short of breathtaking but it’s the comparisons by trainer Tony Vasil to former stable champions Haradasun and Elvstroem that has the racing community buzzing.
Prince Harada is most likely to chase Group 1 glory in the Caulfield Guineas (12th October), though he has a surprising nomination in the Caulfield Cup – a race which three year olds rarely contend.
No matter where he goes, be sure to mark him down in the black book.
3. Seville
Career: 14 starts for one win; six year old stallion; trainer: Robert Hickmott
Former German galloper embarking on his third campaign down under.
In his first campaign he just did enough, with a ninth in the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield, a lesser group race, and fourth behind Stradbroke handicap winner Linton in the R.A. Lee Stakes in Adelaide.
His second campaign down under however really shaped him as a quality galloper.
After two standard runs when fresh, Seville came out and ran a slashing second to 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon in the Turnbull Stakes that run put him into favouritism for the Caulfield Cup, but he unfortunately suffered a setback and had to be spelled.
Seville has not been seen at the races since the Turnbull.
Managing owner of Macedon Lodge (Seville stabled) Nick Williams said if someone asked who was the Cup’s pick so far, he would say Seville. That gives me a lot of confidence because the Macedon Lodge stable has Sea Moon, Green Moon, Mourayan and Tanby.
Seville will target the Caulfield Cup over 2400m (October 19) and Melbourne Cup (November 6th).
This is a serious horse that you must follow.
4. Prince of Penzance
Career: 5 starts for three wins; four year old gelding; trainer: Darren Weir
While being sparingly raced for a four year old, he shows enormous potential and a bit of talent.
Prince Of Penzance has only had the one campaign and he took it all before him, graduating from the provincials after winning his first start at Stawell right through to Flemington on a winter Saturday.
He has a powerful finish at the end of a race, I remember watching the races at Caulfield and I saw this powerful chestnut weaving his way through the field coming from last on the turn to just miss in a photo finish.
While being very promising, Prince Of Penzance is probably a while off making it to the big leagues just yet, but if you follow this horse he won’t let you down.
Prince Of Penzance might target a race like the Bendigo Cup (October 30) or The La Vie En Rose on Oaks Day.
A Cups horse next year.
5. Hawkspur
Career: 18 starts for six wins; four year old gelding; trainer: Chris Waller
Queensland Derby winner who is being set for the Caulfield Cup.
Took him a while to put altogether but when he did he really made people stand up and notice, after putting the writing on the wall with a big win in the Rough Habit Plate.
He then made it two on end with a dominant display in the Grand Prix Stakes before taking out the Derby in easing style.
He races close to the front and has the makings of a quality stayer.
Hawkspur is a live Caulfield Cup chance and is rated a $21 chance.
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