Springboard to Group 1

Trainer hopes win in Ajax will lead to Doncaster

INTRIGUING import Cepheus was a one-time Melbourne Cup hopeful but could find himself attacking Queensland’s most prestigious sprint race during the winter carnival.

The Matt Dunn-trained former British stayer will race in Saturday’s Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill as a potential springboard towards the Group 1 Doncaster Mile and then winter carnival riches including the possibility of a Stradbroke Handicap crack.

Cepheus, once trained by

Brian Meehan at the historic Manton Estate in England, was in the entries for the 2021 Melbourne Cup but then ended up having a year off the scene with a bowed tendon.

He did not race in 2022 but has returned to run placings in two sprint races at Doomben in February.

Cepheus was purchased by OTI for $600,000 with big races over staying trips in mind, but Murwillumbah trainer Dunn is still working out his best distance range. He feels he could potentially be dynamite over shorter trips but he is also among the entries for next month’s $5m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m.

But Dunn has an inkling the gelding could yet emerge as a winter carnival weapon.

“Queensland is attractive for him – there are races like the (Group 1) Doomben Cup but there is also an option to give him a freshen and look at a race like the Stradbroke,” Dunn said. “He proved he can race well over a shorter distance the other day.

“He is a really good horse, he has got a turn of foot that most don’t.

“He is meant to be a Melbourne Cup stayer, but he can put himself into sprint races.

“It’s just a matter now of figuring out how far he needs to go in distance, that’s the biggest issue I face.

“He probably needs to win on Saturday to get a run in the Doncaster. I have entered him in the Queen Elizabeth as well, as I honestly don’t know how far he will go.”

Dunn, chasing his first Group 1 winner, is hoping it could be Cepheus.

He said racing fans should see the best of six-year-old this year after being gelded and then recovering from injury.

“He bowed a tendon, it was a decent tear,” Dunn said.

“OTI use Matthew Williams down in Victoria to do rehab work with horses and Cepheus spent a year with him and they were always quite confident we would get him back.

“I will say this about him, this is his first proper preparation as a gelding and his willingness to be competitive now is fantastic.

“Unlike most European horses, he is hopeless on wet ground and it took us a couple of goes to work that out.”

Cepheus is rated a $17 chance in the Ajax Stakes and will be ridden by Nash Rawiller.