Successful combination team up at Caulfield
New Zealand trainer Mark Walker has called on an old friend from his days in Singapore for the ride on Exuberance at Caulfield.
Joao Moreira will pilot the filly when she runs in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday.
Walker and Moreira combined on 204 occasions during their time in Singapore, winning on 48 occasions with a further 61 placings.
Exuberance broke through for her maiden victory at Cranbourne last start, and Walker’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said the filly can be a bit of a ‘hot-head’.
That is the reason Walker has called on Moreira for the ride on Saturday.
“It was only a maiden over 1200 metres at Cranbourne last start, but she did do it the tough way,” Gleeson said.
“She led them up, she got headed, and then she fought back and won.
“She’s a filly that’s been a little bit cantankerous in her work, does like to get a bit keen, but we’re trying to teach her to settle and drop off them.
“Laura who rides her every day at home and is one of the best judges I’ve ever seen on a horse, has been really happy with her.
“We’ve got Moreira on who’s got some of the best hands in the business, and that’s purely why we booked him.
“If he can get her to settle in a good rhythm, I think she’ll be a flashing light and hopefully figuring in the finish, but we’ve got two eyes looking towards a mile in time.”
Gleeson said Exuberence profiles like a filly that will relish 1600m, and further, and there are plans afoot for the filly to contest the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on November 16.
But should the filly require time after Saturday’s race, Gleeson said Walker would not hesitate in sending the filly for a break.
“We’ve been very vocal with the owners that we don’ t want to rush her,” Gleeson said.
“She’s an immature, Savabeel filly, even though she’ s a beautiful-looking horse.
“I think in the autumn, she’ll be an absolutely stunning type, and we just want to get it right early in her career to set her up for a good future.”
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...