QUICKIE CAULFIELD CUP HOPE

Galloper fancied to unleash powerful Caulfield Cup run

WHEN it comes to the Caulfield Cup there’s only one true Victorian galloper and that’s Mr Quickie, according to his managing owner Wylie Dalziel.

“He’s the only horse bred in Victoria and he’s one of a few horses who have been trained here all of their career,” Dalziel said yesterday.

Mr Quickie was bred by Anthony Mithen and his brother-in-law Nigel Austin’s Rosemont Stud, Ceres, just out of Geelong.

They sold him as a yearling to Wylie Dalziel and his bloodstock manager former top trainer Peter Moody $115,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions Sales.

Moody told Dalziel that the son of Shamus Award, who now stands at Rosemont Stud, was one of the better colts in the sale.

No sooner than he was sold both Mithen and Austin put their hand up to stay in.

Dalziel and Moody stayed in the horse and another 18 people also joined in including ten in another Geelong member David Roe’s Shangi Chargers Syndicate.

“Nigel wanted to race him in Rosemont red gatecrasher colours and I wanted to race him in my blue and white colours I’ve raced in since we started with Roy Higgins,” Dalziel said.

“In total there’s 23 of us in the horse and 22 will be there cheering him on.”

Mr Quickie is trained by South Australian Phillip Stokes who is happy to be part of the Victorian team as he set up stables at the new Pakenham complex which is where Mr Quickie is trained. Stokes believes Mr Quickie is on track to win the Caulfield Cup.

“His first-up run in the Makybe Diva Stakes was outstanding. He probably went too well in that and couldn’t replicate second up on a day where it was hard to make ground,” Stokes said.

“His work on Tuesday was brilliant.

“There’s going to be good speed in the race and from his barrier [10] he should be able to slot in midfield.”

Stokes pointed out Mr Quickie has had two starts at Caulfield for a first and a second, so he’d also have an advantage over many of his rivals as he could handle the circuit.

Mr Quickie has won nine of his 15 starts with his best win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby where he defeated Vow And Declare.

Mike Moroney’s former German stayer Sound has snuck into the Caulfield Cup field after New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor was scratched by Racing Victoria stewards.

Crown Prosecutor was inspected by Racing Victoria yesterday and they didn’t pass the Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old.

They inspected him on Thursday and reinspected him yesterday.