Queensland trip hinges on Caulfield outing
Trainer Gavin Bedggood is set to test Oscar’s Fortune over 1400 metres for the first time when the former Perth galloper tackles the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
The five-time winner has contested all 16 career starts over sprint distances of 1200m or less, but Bedggood is optimistic the son of Rich Enuff can handle the rise in trip. Since arriving in Victoria, Oscar’s Fortune has run in three Listed events and also featured in The Meteorite at Cranbourne.
“All the data we get off him is that he wants further and to ride him, that’s what he feels like too,” Bedggood said.
“He’s untried past the 1200 (metres). At the 1400 metres, he’s got good natural speed, so I think he’ll rock along.
“He’s been carrying 60 kilos plus, so after Logan Bates’ claim, he’ll come in with 57-½ (kg), so he looks well-weighted in a race like that, I would think.”
The gelding’s two starts this prep were a ninth-place finish in the Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington and a sixth in the Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington.
A recent 1000m jump-out win at Cranbourne has Bedggood confident the horse is ready to fire third-up.
“He had a jump-out the reverse way on Monday and he’ll run on Saturday in the benchmark 100 and if he was able to win on Saturday, I would look to take him up to Queensland,” Bedggood said.
“He was OK in the Hareeba, but it’s a line in the sand run for him, I suppose.
“Going to Queensland will be dependent on how he goes on Saturday.”
Oscar’s Fortune has drawn barrier two in a capacity field that includes 16 runners plus one emergency at Caulfield.
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