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Talent affirmed

| August 26, 2013
Cauthen hops onto Caulfield Guineas trail after easy win

Cauthen hops onto Caulfield Guineas trail after easy win

Star Kiwi galloper Cauthen showed he was right on the Caulfield Guineas trail with a convincing win in the listed Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The lightly raced three year old (who started at $2.60) scored by a length and a half under top NZ jockey James McDonald, who is now based in Sydney.

The rider passed up on the chance to ride at a star-studded Warwick Farm card to partner the son of Darci Brahma in this Melbourne race for Kiwi trainer Andrew Campbell.

Cauthen, who bears the same name as the world famous American jockey of the 1970s and 1980s, Steve Cauthen, will now back up in a fortnight in the Henry Bucks Stakes at Flemington over 1400 metres as he continues his path to the Guineas. The colt also holds a Cox Plate entry, but Campbell said the Guineas would be his main focus.

Second home was Danny O’Brien’s progressive Shamus Award ($5.50), who has now run five places in his six starts, with the fast-finishing Long John ($6) three quarters of a length away third.

Paul Snowden, the trainer of the hitherto unbeaten Long John, said his Street Cry gelding would likely take on the winner again at Flemington in a fortnight, when he would be sharper for the run. “His last 600 metres would probably be the run of the race, probably the best sectionals, he was hitting the line hard,” Snowden said.

McDonald has already ridden plenty of good horses in his short career, and was enthusiastic about Cauthen’s future.

“He’s big, he’s powerful, he’s got the right attitude to be a very good horse, so lets hope the further he goes the better he will be,” McDonald said.

Cauthen’s Australian debut is now a distant memory as connections eye off the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on October 12. He will head towards the Guineas via runs in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400m) and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

Cauthen by Darci Brahma(NZ) out of Minori Express recorded his second victory for owners Mr D R Platt, Mr J A Barnao, Mr M Climo, Ms N A Cruickshank, Mr T G Heptinstall, Mr T M Plvac, Mr W Webb, Mr W R Platt taking his earnings to $90 392.

Cauthen(NZ) improved sharply on his Australian debut three weeks ago.

The Andrew Campbell-trained galloper was an easing favourite, after failing favourite punters at the track three weeks earlier.

Slightly slow into stride, rider James McDonald still managed to position the colt one out and one back behind last start nemesis Clevadude, who again led the field.

Cauthen got a nice trail into the straight courtesy of Jade’s Boy, where he immediately loomed large.

The rumours coming out of New Zealand about the colt started to become justified as Cauthen unleashed a powerful turn of foot inside the final furlong to win by 1.5L in a time of 1.10.85 on the Dead 4 track.

Shamus Award and Craig Williams finished in second, while Long John under Steve Arnold, finished in third further 0.75L back.

“That’s the real Cauthen,” Campbell said.

“It was pleasing to see him do that today. It makes life easier for us now.”

“He is a big strong horse so he is going to be able to buffet a few around,” McDonald said.

“He got into a lovely rhythm today.

“That 1000m race probably took that sharpness out of him, he felt quite dour today. He is probably looking for that 1400m to a mile.

“As soon as he straightened up he changed legs and powered home, he is a good colt.

“The edge was off him. He was very fresh last time and today he cantered down like a proper colt should canter down.

“His racing manners were superb. He was still struggled around that bend though and it wasn’t until he straightened up that he got going.”

 

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