The 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival will see the return of Mark Kavanagh’s talented four-year-old Super Cool, but he will not be reunited with his old sparring partner Fiveandahalfstar.
Kavanagh revealed this week that Super Cool’s grand final will not be the Melbourne Cup, where he finished a solid ninth last year.
Despite that performance, and assurances prior to the Cup that Super Cool could run the distance, Kavanagh has elected for a middle-distance campaign.
Super Cool will return in August in the Memsie Stakes (1400m, weight-for-age) and is being aimed at the Cox Plate (2040m, weight-for-age) and the Mackinnon (2000m, weight-for-age) on Derby Day.
Super Cool will also potentially feature in the Underwood (1800m, weight-for-age) at Caulfield and the Turnbull (2000m, weight-for-age) at Flemington.
Kavanagh will especially rate the four-year-old’s chances in the Mackinnon, which in recent years has become something of a barrier trial for Cup contenders.
In bypassing the autumn and choosing to focus on the Spring Carnival, Kavanagh will be hoping for an improved spring with Super Cool. He registered no wins in last year’s campaign.
Meanwhile, Anthony Cummings confirmed that Fiveandahalfstar’s troublesome fetlock injury will keep him out of the 2014 Spring Carnival, with a view to a return in the autumn. The injury sustained in last year’s BMW has kept Fiveandahalfstar off the track since, and has thwarted any efforts at a Melbourne Cup.
Punters will be most disappointed with Fiveandahalfstar’s absence.
He burst onto the scene when winning the 2012 Victoria Derby at the long odds of 40-1. His autumn campaign was equally impressive, winning at Group 1 level in the BMW and finishing second in both the Ranvet and Australian Cup, losing out to Foreteller and Super Cool respectively.
His tendency to lead from the front with tenacity and toughness was impressive, especially as a three-year-old who competed and won against older opposition.
His injury prevented a clash with It’s A Dundeel in the Australian Derby. Prior to It’s A Dundeel claiming the Triple Crown, the general consensus was that Fiveandahalfstar was at least of equal ability.
With the retirement of It’s A Dundeel and the continued absence of Fiveandahalfstar, an improved spring for Super Cool could well establish him as the most successful of a vintage crop.
mfor45
Roar Pro
Hi Andrew. Not sure about Norzita returning. Last I heard she was recovering from her tendon injury and would miss the Championships, but no news on whether she'll be back for the spring. Agreed, she showed real talent. Hopefully she can make it back to the track.
andrew
Guest
anyone know whether norzita is coming back from injury as a 5yo mare ? she was every bit as pierro in the doncaster
Sammy
Guest
Nice one rookie. The Kavman is certainly having a lean trot so hopefully he can get some good wins on the board soon. Super Cool is an interesting one to me as he is a complete "outlier" when it comes to Fastnet Rock. Usually the Fastnet follow the pattern of -promising 2yr olds, Brilliant at 3 and fading stars at 4. Very few( colts, mares or geldings) continue at a high level beyond 4. So I will be curious to see what he can do as a 5yr Fastnet.