|
Cups assault doubtful for Aussie owned UK stayer
15 Aug 2012 | Racingandsports.com.au Newmarket trainer Willie Haggas is doubtful his Australian-owned stayer Beaten Up (GB) will be ready to embark on a 2012 Emirates Melbourne Cup campaign as originally was hoped.
Currently quoted at $51 for the $6m Group 1 race over 3200m at Flemington on November 6th with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds Haggas believes the Beat Hollow gelding is unlikely to make the trip to Australia for the staying feature.
“Unless there is a radical turn in the next two or three weeks then he won’t be coming this year,” Haggas said.
Purchased with a view to the 2012 Cups by businessmen Bruce Mathieson and Rick Smith after a dominant Group 3 win over 2418m at Newbury last year, Beaten Up has since run below his best in two subsequent runs.
“Half of him was sold to Bruce Mathieson and Rick Smith last autumn and he has gone in reverse since they bought him which is a pity because he is a very smart horse if I can get him right,” Haggas said.
“He won his first three, then we ran him in Dubai in the Sheema Classic where he finished fifth then we ran him in the Coronation Cup and finished fifth again.
“He was disappointing in both races. We think we know why and we are trying to fix it. Hopefully it will be onwards and upwards from here.
“We would have to go into quarantine here on September 13 so I have to make the decision in the next fortnight with Bruce and Rick whether we stay here this autumn and get him back on track, get him back on track and prepare him for next year.
“I think it is very hard for a young four-year-old to come to Australia and do well. The horses that have done well in the Cup from here have been quite old, five and six-year-olds.
“There is plenty of time for him to come good and come down your way. The most important thing in my opinion is that we have him in top shape and sadly at the moment I don’t have him in top shape,” he said.
Haggas may still be represented during the Melbourne Spring carnival with Master Of Hounds (USA) nominated for the Group 1 WFA Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien and then Mike De Kock, the five-year-old has arrived at his Newmarket stables with some good form behind h
“I had two horses who came from Mike De Kock, one of them is Master Of Hounds who is a thoroughly nice, genuine horse,” Haggas told Sky Sports Radio.
“He won the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in Dubai in March and then raced in the Dubai World Cup where he got beaten a fair way.
“He had a nice spell after that and since returning to me he has been working super at the moment. He is a thoroughly nice, genuine, honest horse and it is only in the last two weeks I’ve thought we should be considering Australia.
“I e-mailed Leigh Jordan at Racing Victoria and he indicated that there was a strong possibility there was a strong chance that he would be good enough to get invited. I put that to his owner and his team and they are considering it now,” he said.
Master Of Hounds is a $31 chance in the early Cox Plate market with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds.
|
|
»Form for SAI Cup and KrisFlyer Sprint meeting at Kranji
»Farhh flies home in Lockinge Stakes
»Singapore Airlines International Cup – the preview
»Derby focus falls on Telescope
»Stevens shatters Triple Crown dreams on Oxbow
»Murtagh gains raining license but keeps riding
»Dettori comeback jeopardised by red tape
»2013 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1) - comments from runners' connections
»Glen's Diamond sparkles in Yorkshire Cup shock
»Swettenham goes the way of the exciting Winsili
»Dettori cleared for return to action on Monday
»Secret Gesture and Liber Nauticus among 14 remaining in Investec Oaks
|