The Gold Coast Bulletin

Victorem ready to prove his worth: Graham

- MARCO MONTEVERDE

TRAINER Jenny Graham is confident Victorem can confirm his Group 1 potential with an impressive showing in Saturday’s Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.

Graham said Victorem had bounced out of his superb firstup run behind Godolphin’s talented Viridine at Listed level during this month’s Scone carnival, and was ready to confirm his status as a genuine contender for the $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

“First we have to get through Saturday, and we still have to get into the Stradbroke,” the Port Macquarieb­ased trainer said yesterday.

“The horse galloped well (yesterday) and pulled up well, so signs are good for Saturday.”

Victorem was having his first run back at Scone when a hard-finishing second to Viridine in the Ortensia Stakes, following a luckless Brisbane summer campaign.

After placings in the Listed Keith Noud Quality and Group 3 George Moore Stakes, Victorem was an effortless 3¾length winner of the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) on December 15 before rounding out the campaign with another placed effort as an oddson favourite in The Buffering on December 29. All four runs were at the tighter Doomben circuit and Graham conceded the move to Eagle Farm would only prove to be in the gelding’s favour. “Eagle Farm will suit him 100 per cent,” she said.

 ??  ?? Ben Looker on Victorem.
Ben Looker on Victorem.

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