Pressure on Star Gelding to Shine in Silver Eagle
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56 SPORT SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 2020 Shorter route for Quickie BLOOD MUST preferred Pressure on star gelding to shine in Silver Eagle BRAD WATERS RAY THOMAS the 1300m of the $500,000 place when resuming in a truth has arrived for Alligator him and give us a better A NEW and potentially im- Silver Eagle at Royal Rand- Doomben 1100m sprint a Blood. “The Silver Eagle is understanding of where the proved Mr Quickie will carry IN less than 75 seconds, there wick today and prove once month ago. going to be significant to see if horse is at. the 59kg top weight in today’s will be an answer to a debate and for all whether he is back Trainer David Vandyke Alligator Blood is back to his “I know it is only a small Group 1 Toorak Handicap that has been raging for to his brilliant best. has heard all the talk but has best,’’ Vandyke said. field but Dawn Passage is a (1600m) at Caulfield. weeks. Alligator Blood’s form has deliberately decided not to “I thought his first-up run quality horse and the form Trainer Phillip Stokes has This is about the time Alli- been questioned since the buy into the debate although was a pass mark but this race around some of the other abandoned the idea that Mr gator Blood needs to complete gelding was beaten into third he concedes the moment of at Randwick will be a test for horses is good, too. But if Alli- Quickie is a stayer, with short- er races to become targets for the five-year-old. Mr Quickie won the Group Oliver given licence 1 Queensland Derby (2500m) as a three-year-old and ran second in the Group 2 Moonee to steer own course Valley Gold Cup (2500m) last spring, but Stokes said the gelding wasn’t a true stayer. aboard Russian flyer “I’m just not convinced about him as a stayer. He doesn’t even look like a stay- DAMIEN Oliver will be given Views (sixth) are the others to er,” Stokes said. licence to ride Russian Camelot re-emerge from the “I just think he did that with freedom in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes. (won the Queensland Derby) Caulfield Stakes (2000m) as Australian Derby winner on class as a three-year-old.” the boom import looks to Levendi is the only The son of Cox Plate win- cement Cox Plate favouritism “newcomer” to join the fray as ner Shamus Award hasn’t won today. Russian Camelot attempts to since his Queensland Derby Chasing his third Group 1 emulate the deeds of Winx and triumph, but he has placed victory, Russian Camelot will So You Think by winning the twice at Group 1 level over face only five rivals at the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox 1400m and 1600m. Heath, but trainer Danny Plate in the same year. Mr Quickie caught the eye O’Brien is unconcerned his Winx notched the second when running on well for sec- stable star might fall victim to of her four triumphs at The ond to The Everest-bound Be- opposition tactics. Valley after defeating just two hemoth in the Memsie Stakes “I don’t think so. I think rivals – Black Heart Bart and first-up, before a battling ef- we’re drawn to get a nice run, He Or She – in the 2016 fort behind Russian Camelot whatever Damien wants to Caulfield Stakes. over 1800m in the Under- do,” O’Brien said. Six years earlier, So You wood Stakes. “Whether he wants to be Think downed Alcopop and That performance con- outside the leader or one out, Whobegotyou in a six-horse vinced Stokes to go in another one back, he should be in a field at Caulfield before landing direction with Mr Quickie. position where he’s in control his second Cox Plate. “He’s been going OK. He of his destiny.” Russian Camelot has firmed was great first-up, but we’ve Veteran Gailo Chop, who from $1.55 into $1.50 for the seen it in the past where he’s returned to form with a Caulfield Stakes and is a strong got the second-up syndrome,” tenacious fourth in the Cox favourite at $2.80, ahead Stokes said. Underwood Stakes behind of internationals Armoury and “Hopefully third-up, he’ll be Russian Camelot on Sir Dragonet, both $9. back on top of this game. We September 26, is among four “(He) couldn’t be any just think fresh, back to a mile, horses in the Caulfield Stakes better,” O’Brien said. we might get a better result. seeking Underwood revenge “He’s third-up now, his two “Jamie Kah goes on and against Russian Camelot. runs have been terrific, (and) she’s riding great, so we are ex- Humidor (second), Arcadia stepping out to 2000m should pecting a better performance.” Queen (third) and Harbour be an advantage for him.” Are you a tradie looking Starting from for more local leads to $58 grow your business? Placing an ad has never been cheaper or easier. Place an ad online today for 10% OFF! ( ) _______Code: SAVE10 ~ M=ihtadl.lD.com.au NTNE01Z01MA - V1.