The 2014 The BMW field includes seven Group 1 winners and will feature a rematch between Ranvet Stakes winner Silent Achiever and talented gallopers Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel.
The past two Melbourne Cup winners Fiorente and Green Moon have both been included in the 2014 The BMW field. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Silent Achiever returned to Australian racing with a narrow victory over Carlton House in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22; extending her winning streak to three straight wins after taking out the Retina Specialists Handicap (1500m) at Ellerslie on February 15 and the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on March 8.
The O’Reilly mare will jump from barrier four in The BMW this weekend and will be ridden again by leading Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller.
Fiorente produced his worst performance since arriving in Australia in the Ranvet Stakes, finishing seventh, but connections are confident that he can return to his best form when he steps up to 2400 metres this weekend.
The imported stayer will jump from barrier one and will be having his final race start before he contests the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
It’s A Dundeel will jump from barrier eight in the 2014 The BMW Stakes this weekend and will be returning to 2400 metres for the first time since he won the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) by an impressive six lengths during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The High Chaparral gelding has only scored one race win since his memorable Australian Derby victory and was beaten at short odds in both the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Ranvet Stakes this preparation.
Chris Waller is the only trainer that will have multiple runners in the 2014 The BMW field; with imported stayers Foreteller and Brigantin both set to contest the race.
Foreteller (barrier nine) will be contesting The BMW for the second year in a row after finishing fifth behind Fiveandahalfstar in last year’s race, while Brigantin (barrier five) will be making his Australian Group 1 debut after finishing sixth behind Entirely Platinum in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.
Another imported stayer that has been included in The BMW Field is Irish mare Voleuse De Coeurs (barrier two), who will be having her first race start in Sydney after performing fairly in both the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
Trainer Michael Moroney said yesterday that Voleuse De Coeurs had taken plenty of improvement out of her Australian Cup run and is confident that she will perform strongly over 2400 metres in The BMW this weekend.
The Macedon Lodge-trained duo of Green Moon and Mourayan are also returning to the races for the first time since running in the Australian Cup and both have performed well in two starts this preparation.
Green Moon (barrier seven) finished fourth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) before finishing second behind Fiorente in the Australian Cup, while Mourayan returned to his best form with a second place finish in the Peter Young Stakes and worked home strongly in the Australian Cup.
The 2014 The BMW field is rounded out by progressive gelding Sertorius (barrier six), Pat Carey-trained Angola (barrier three) and staying mare Let’s Make Adeal (barrier 11).
