FIRST IMMORTAL BACK ON TRACK FOR CRACK AT CUP
The focus is on various Guineas or Golden Slippers with many stables but one camp has its eye firmly on November’s Melbourne Cup.
Flemington trainers Mark and Levi Kavanagh had stayer First Immortal on the cusp of a Melbourne Cup start last time in before a head knock hindered the gelding in his last start in the Geelong Cup.
First Immortal struck his head in the gates but was beaten less than two lengths in the Geelong Cup.
The father and son training combination decided to take a conservative approach with First Immortal, ending his spring campaign to aim at the 2024 Melbourne Cup. First Immortal took a significant step towards his return to racing in a jumpout at Flemington last Friday.
He trailed the field in the unsuitable 800m jumpout but Levi Kavanagh said the gelding did enough in his first hitout of the year.
“The whole pack was going pretty quick so he was out the back but made ground after the trial,” he said. “It was good for his fitness but you probably want him to be in it a bit more next time.”
Kavanagh said the son of Churchill would build up towards attempting to win his way into the Melbourne Cup via the $500,000 Andrew Ramsden at Flemington in May.
He added taking First Immortal interstate was unlikely at this stage but the four-year-old would resume later next month to ramp up his preparation towards the Melbourne Cup qualifier.
“There’s a few races on the way there that he can run in as well,” Kavanagh said.
“We may travel him but we primarily want to stick around here and try to tick off a few boxes I suppose.
“We just want to get him back and running well. He’s had a good spell and put on weight and he looks really good. He’ll need a run or two to build a bit of fitness but he’s going well.”
TAB had First Immortal on the second line of Melbourne Cup betting at $26.
Last year’s Cup quinella Soulcombe and Without A Fight, who are both currently on the sidelines, top longrange betting at $13.