Lizzie L’Amour, Bonneval ready to step out in Aust
The New Zealand spring attack gains momentum in Australia this weekend with star mares Bonneval and Lizzie L’Armour set to begin their Caulfield and Melbourne Cup campaigns.
Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman expressed satisfaction with Jon Snow’s first up effort in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) after he ran strongly to finish sixth.
This weekend the stable has two more of their Group I winners taking on the Aussies.
Bonneval and Lizzie L’Amour are in good shape ahead of the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley next Saturday.
‘‘I think they’ll give cheek,’’ Forsman said.
‘‘Lizzie L’Amour could be the one, she’s quite forward in condition and has the ability to settle handy while we think Bonneval may take a run or two to hit peak.’’
The ATC Australian Derby winner Jon Snow will likely head to the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16 for his next run.
‘‘He had to put his hand up and some he did on Saturday,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘The run said he’s up to the task over there. We have plenty of options on the way to his main goal, the Caulfield Cup.’’
The trainers will follow a weight-for-age path and will do the same with Bonneval and Lizzie L’Amour who also hold Caulfield Cup aspirations.
Fellow Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh said he could not have been happier with Chocante’s first up third in the Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday behind Winx.
Marsh said he now plans to head to the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) on September 16 before a planned tilt in The Metropolitan (2400m) two weeks later.
Former Cambridge trainer now Cranbourne based Trent Busuttin has said Group I winner Tavago is not a certain starter in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.
Busuttin, who co-trains with partner Natalie Young, said that he would ideally like another week to prepare the 2016 ATC Australian Derby winner.
Busuttin said Tavago galloped at Cranbourne on Saturday in a work-out that pleased both trainers.
‘‘I’d probably prefer to go to the Valley first-up on the StrathAyr track with him but it’s just a week too soon for where we are with him,’’ he said.
‘‘He only does what he has to on the track so it’s hard to get a line on him. But his coat is starting to come through and his gallop was enormous and Natalie was rapt with him also. We’ll throw a nomination in and make a decision.’’
The winner of the 2016 Australian Derby, Tavago hasn’t raced since running last behind Jameka in The BMW at Rosehill in March.
Two weeks earlier he had found winning form taking out the Group Three Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
Tavago pulled up lame from the BMW with and there were fears his racing days were over.