Pisces in line for 2024 Sandown Guineas honours
James Cummings and the Godolphin team are happy to again step up to 1600m with a more mature Pisces at Caulfield.
Gelded at the end of his two –year-old season, Pisces has finished in the placings in his two runs this campaign, including a win in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 16.
On Saturday, Pisces steps up to 1600m to contest the Group 2 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield.
Blake Shinn was aboard Pisces when as a two-year-old the then colt ran over 1400m and 1600m at Flemington, finishing second and fourth respectively.
Shinn at the time suggested trying Pisces at 1600m after his 1400m placing, but whether it was the trip, or the end of a long preparation, the jockey was unsure, but the Godolphin team is happy to give Saturday’s journey another try.
“We did question the 1400 (metres) last time in when Blake Shinn rode him at Flemington saying he feels like he could probably go beyond, so we gave it a try, but he was coming off a big prep,” Godolphin assistant trainer Nacim Dilmi said.
“When Blake came back, he said it was either the distance or the extended prep
“We gave him a nice break and his run in the Red Anchor was good, his run here two weeks ago was very good, and we have no doubt that over the 1600 this time he’ll be competitive.”
Dilmi said Pisces was still on fresh legs after his two runs this campaign.
He said the gelding operation had improved Pisces’ demeanour around the stable and he was now an easier horse to deal with.
“His demeanour, his attitude is better as last time he was a little bit of a thinker,” Dilmi said.
“He was doing a lot wrong at home and also in his races, so to see how he was last prep compared to this prep, we feel like he’s a different horse and now he’s got more the will to be a racehorse.”
Consideration was given to taking Pisces to Perth for last week’s Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m), but the Godolphin team made the call to keep the gelding in Melbourne.
Instead, Pisces made the trip from Flemington to Caulfield for a gallop on Tuesday morning.
“We came here this morning to do a nice tick over gallop and from what I saw, we’re very happy with him,” Dilmi said.
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...