Elite gathering at Caulfield
29 Jun 2012 | Racing Victoria Ltd The city debut of one of Victoria’s most promising fillies is a highlight at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Travis Harrison Cup and Don Abell Cup might be the feature events at Caulfield this Saturday, but they may have to take a back seat to one of the earlier events.
For many, the city debut of Elite Elle in the $70,000 Tattsbet.com 2YO Handicap will make the 1200-metre event the most anticipated race of the card, which has been transferred from Moonee Valley.
The Tony Vasil-trained filly has created a monstrous opinion in just two starts, which have both produced breath-taking wins.
After storming home for a 2-1/4-length win over 1000m on debut at Bendigo, she stepped up to the metro-class meeting at Mornington on 11 June where she demonstrated her versatility with a 1-3/4-length after racing on the pace.
The Tattsbet.com Handicap is likely to be the daughter of Shamardal's final start before a freshen-up ahead of the feature three-year-old sprinting races at the Spring Racing Carnival.
Saturday's race could be a good guide to spring with the also-undefeated Flamberge, from the Peter Moody yard, heading a strong set of rivals for Elite Elle.
Flamberge's stablemate King Krovahn, who filled a minor placing behind the horse at Flemington on 16 June, is also engaged along with talented Darley-raced colt Haussmann and last-start Flemington winner Day Procedure.
The Tattsbet.com Handicap is the second event on a card that commences with a slick $70,000 Printhouse Handicap, featuring the return of former boom Moody-trained filly Le Societe, at 12.25pm.
The $70,000 Travis Harrison Cup (1600m) is the MVRC's feature apprentices-only event and will showcase Victoria's premier young riding talent.
Jake Noonan, Damian Lane, Adam McCabe and Ben Knobel are among those engaged in the event named after former top apprentice, who died in a car accident in the mid-1990s.
It follows the $70,000 Don Abell Cup (1600m), which sees last year's runner-up Philda head a field including recent Caulfield winners Gold Sand and Cosmic Causeway and last-start Sportingbet Park (Sandown) winner Forty Thirty.
Other highlights on a strong winter card are the $70,000 LF Signs Handicap (1200m) for mares, which is headed by Let's Be Happy and Rue Maple, and a talent-packed $70,000 Dominant Handicap (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.