Chris Waller’s string of contenders for the Caulfield Guineas has received a valuable acclimatisation following a recent excursion to Caulfield.
Tron Bolt, Diameter, Central Europe, and Somethings Burnin’ all engaged in gallops at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, sharpening their preparations for the highly anticipated Caulfield Guineas (1600m) this Saturday.
The four colts were afforded the opportunity to experience the race day tie-up stalls, make the walk into the mounting yard, and familiarise themselves with the Caulfield track.
“It’s important to come here as they come here on race day more relaxed,” Waller explained. “It’s no different to us. They get familiar with being here. You don’t want their eyes popping out of their heads, you want them to focus and concentrate on their racing.”
Waller departed Caulfield on Tuesday morning in good spirits, however, a few hours later, the barrier draw for the 11-horse field was conducted, and the results were not entirely to Waller’s liking.
Tron Bolt drew barrier 11, Diameter drew barrier 9, Central Europe will start from barrier 7, with Somethings Burnin’ drawing the best of the quartet in barrier three.
“A good barrier is always important in the Caulfield Guineas, or any race,” Waller commented. “When my horses draw wide, they generally drift back, find a spot, relax, get the first half of the race right. You rely on so much luck and speed to be able to win.”
It will now be up to the jockeys to make the most of the draws.
Waller revealed that Tron Bolt’s preparation has been aimed squarely at the Guineas since his victory in the JJ Atkins (1600m) during the Queensland Winter Carnival in Brisbane.
“He’s a very talented colt with a Group 1 next to his name and his run in the Golden Rose was certainly a pass mark and he will appreciate stepping up to 1600 metres,” Waller stated. “Being a J J Atkins winner, you hope they have enough speed to win a Golden Rose, but barrier draws and the like probably played a part, but this has been a target race for him.”
Central Europe, a high-priced yearling purchase, has placed in three of his five starts but enters the Guineas still seeking his first win.
The son of Frankel was given a slightly more demanding workout than his stablemates on Tuesday.
“We have to make sure he doesn’t get too fresh,” Waller said. “He was very fresh in the Golden Rose and subsequently he led and went too quick. He can go forward and roll and may be get a sit and conserve some energy, and being a son of Frankel, it is such an important race for him.”
Both Diameter and Somethings Burnin’ have prior Caulfield experience, having finished first and second respectively in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) on September 27.
“He is a very fit horse,” Waller said of Diameter. “He was placed in a Group 1 race as a two-year-old so there is a sense of timing there for a son of Brazen Beau which means a lot to us.”
“Somethings Burnin’, he was narrowly beaten by Diameter the other day. He’ll have a gear change (lugging bit on) to give the rider a little more control and if he can conserve a little bit of energy early, he could perhaps make up the difference. It is a race that is so important to colts and a race that we pick out a long way in advance.”
The Caulfield Guineas is a major target for these colts, and many are looking at the online bookmakers to place their bets.