Naval College to float Autumn carnival prospects
Fresh from shattering Octagonal’s 2000-metre track record at Rosehill, emerging import Naval College will chase a second successive stakes win in the Listed Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm.
The five-year-old ran 1:59.11 seconds when demolishing his January Cup rivals last start, bettering the previous mark of 1:59.99 seconds that had been dually held by multiple Group 1 winners Danewin and Octagonal for more than 30 years.
While Rob Archibald, racing manager for trainer Annabel Neasham, isn’t expecting Naval College to follow a similar trajectory to Octagonal, he does believe the lightly raced galloper can progress to higher-grade races.
“He’s got a long way to go before he can be at the same level as Octagonal, but he’s a lovely horse and the future is bright with him,” Archibald said.
“He has just come back really well this time in.
“He has improved each time he’s stepped out and he’s a lovely, natural stayer who is getting out over a nice distance.”
Naval College is a winner up to 2414-metres in Europe but has only raced beyond 2000-metres once in Australia, finishing runner-up to Fawkner Park over 2400-metres in July.
He extends to that journey again in the Australia Day Cup on Friday and while he has to negotiate a 5-1/2 kilo weight rise under James Mcdonald, Archibald is confident neither the distance nor handicap will pose an issue.
“He has been getting a bit of weight relief with (apprentice) Jett Stanley on board, but he’s shown to us he is capable now of carrying a weight like that, so there are no real concerns,” Archibald said.
“But he is going to have to keep improving as he goes up in grade.
“He’s got the pedigree to suggest (the 2400-metres) shouldn’t be a problem and he has been over it before here and run well, so we expect another big run from him.”
A $1.70 favourite, Naval College will be freshened and aimed towards the Sydney autumn carnival if he performs to expectations.
Neasham will also have Regal Lion in the Australia Day Cup, the horse a $34 betting sites outsider after turning in plain efforts at his past three starts.
“He’s a talented horse, but he decides when he wants to show it and he is going to need to improve,” Archibald said.
More Racing News
Concord Connie eyes Victorian Group 1 success
Charlotte Littlefield, the Pakenham-based trainer, is opting against chasing substantial prize money in interstate races with Concord Connie, focusing instead on securing a Group 1 win within Victoria.The exciting mare, Concord Connie, has undergone four weeks of preparation and is being readied for her return, with the Group 1 Empire...
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...
General Salute set for Winter Challenge under favourable wet conditions
The arrival of overnight rain has alleviated Sterling Alexiou's primary concern regarding General Salute's prospects in the final black-type race of the Sydney season, following his recent victory in the Winter Stakes.All four of the gelding's previous wins have been recorded on rain-affected tracks. Earlier in the week, with Rosehill...
Burning Heartz set for Adelaide Stakes test
Trainer Gavin Bedggood envisions a future for Burning Heartz in an Oaks race, but his immediate goal is to secure some valuable Stakes black type for the filly.Burning Heartz, a winner on debut at Sandown on July 1, is now heading to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 South Australian...