Imports do it easy
THE three international hopes headed to next Wednesday’s Geelong Cup enjoyed an easy day on the track at Werribee quarantine centre yesterday.
Tac De Boistron, Brigantin and l i kely Geelong Cup favourite Gatewood all completed light duties.
Gatewood showed he has pulled up well after his unlucky run in the 2400m Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, trotting a lap before cantering another two.
The John Gosden-trained star will be ridden by Glen Boss in the $300,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) after the five-year-old was named second emergency for Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
‘‘He has come through Saturday very well,’’ Gosden’s travelling foreman Marcel Koren said.
Andre Fabre’s Brigantin continues to fly under the radar, with the French-trained horse looking well as he galloped over 1400m.
Under Mick Kent’s track rider Jennie sterberg, Tac De Boistron trotted a lap before putting in a solid effort the second time around over 1400m.
At Flemington, Geelongowned Winchester worked well as the former American galloper heads towards Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Owned by Rosemont Stud’s Anthony Mithen and ridden by Geelong jockey Jamie Mott, the John Sadler-trained Winchester showed his trademark turn of foot late.
The talented eight-year-old worked with a partner and quickened over the last 400m to hit the line solidly.
Danny O’Brien’s Prairie Star put in the gallop of the day over 1600m at Werribee as he prepared for Saturday’s Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.
O’Brien, who elected to bypass the Geelong Cup with his French import, said Prairie Star was fit enough for the first-up assignment.
‘‘I thought he worked very well this morning and if he takes that work to the races then he should be very competitive,’’ O’Brien said.
‘‘He has done very well since he has come to Werribee.
‘‘( I hope that Saturday’s run) tells me that he is not just working good, that he is racing good.
‘‘His last run in Deauville before we got him was poor. So despite all the signs being good, you really want to see him do it on the track again before your confidence goes right up.’’
The Barwon Heads trainer is prepared to take his time with the lightly- raced fiveyear-old, however an impressive performance on Saturday could see Prairie Star continue on a path towards the Melbourne Cup.
‘‘I’m not ruling anything out. If he runs very well on Saturday then he could go to Derby Day and either run in the Lexus or the Mackinnon. Or he could go straight to the Melbourne Cup,’’ O’Brien said.
‘‘I want him to show us that’s the way he should be heading.’’