Sabaj seeks the 2025 Cranbourne Cup
Sabaj will spearhead the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr assault on this year’s Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), with the training duo chasing consecutive wins in the $500,000 feature.
The promising four-year-old announced himself in style at his stable debut, cruising home by 1.8 lengths in a benchmark 84 on Champions Day. His form prior to the stable switch was already strong, highlighted by his Group 2 placing behind Reserve Bank while in the care of Richard & Chantelle Jolly.
Kent Jnr believes Sabaj can emulate the trajectory of Globe, who claimed last year’s Cranbourne Cup before stamping his class with a Group 1 win in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m).
“The Cranbourne Cup is the logical race for him,” Kent Jnr said.
“A mile, on his doorstep. The timing’s good, our only concern would be the tight track. He’s a get back, run on, big striding horse.”
Sabaj was scratched from his Cup Day assignment on Melbourne Cup Day before lining up on Champions Day, and Kent Jnr stands by that decision.
“I’m still glad we scratched him on the Tuesday,” Kent Jnr said.
“It ended up being a soft five only, but I don’t think we would have won.”
“We had an inside draw, and by race ten on Cup Day, they were all coming in the middle and the way Persian Spirit won down the outside, we would have been in traffic, whereas the wide draw on Saturday was the perfect set up.”
“We didn’t know if he’d get a wet track, but we took the positive view that we’re here to learn and find out.”
While the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) was briefly floated as an option, his low ballot position ensured the idea was shelved. Kent Jnr remains confident the gelding will climb the grades.
“He’s very progressive, he’ll get his chance.”
Among 27 nominations for the Cranbourne Cup, Sabaj lines up as the stable’s only representative, with last-start Group 2 winner Warnie heading the ratings for the Maher team.
Racing fans looking to back a runner in the Cranbourne Cup can find competitive odds by checking Australia’s trusted betting sites.
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