Four-year-old Preferment has continued his slick run of form towards the 2015 Caulfield Cup at Flemington this afternoon; mustering an impressive turn of foot in the final straight to take out the featured Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) from stable mate Royal Descent.
Preferment was far too good in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Preferment capped an impressive 2014 campaign with success in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in November, and did he chances of a second win at the highest level no harm this afternoon when jumping from the barriers well and settling in prime position within the talent-rich field.
Receiving an ideal run in transit while Weary, Volkstok’N’Barell and Magicool set the pace, jockey Hugh Bowman allowed the Zabeel entire to steady upon rounding onto the final straight before launching their impressive late assault.
Locked in a fierce sprint battle with Royal Descent through the final 200m, Preferment bobbed his head at the opportune moment to record a second-consecutive win, having taken out the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) on September 19th.
Bowman continues to go from strength to strength this year and delivered a typically brilliant ride on Preferment for success in the 2015 Turnbull Stakes.
“He is a genuine Group 1 performer,” Bowman said after crossing the line.
“He won his maiden in the VRC Derby here last year and he was an immature horse then.
“He loves Flemington obviously and I said after the win last start he was in for a big spring.
“He oozes presence and walking around the enclosure he’s just got all the attributes of an emerging stayer and I could not be more excited.
“To come here under these conditions and win again, I just think it spells big things and he’s a very exciting horse.”
Chris Waller was very pleased with Preferment’s win in the 2015 Turnbull Stakes, and believes the success opens up a plethora of additional options for the four-year-old to contest this time.
“He’s a very exciting horse and just good to see him showing speed over 2000m, not only second-up in Sydney last start but now again today against some of the better horses around,” Waller said.
“We know he’s going to get the distance of say 2400m and beyond, so a pretty special horse.
“He’s matured this year. He was a maiden when won the Derby but untapped and not pushed to be there, and I think that was a big thing.
“I’ll speak to all the people who have been there before. We’ll be thinking about what he’ll be doing but I’ll have a chat to the Lee Freedmans and the Lloyd Williams’ and see what they can offer.
“Obviously a Cox Plate could start to come into contention now, but it’s a good problem to have.”
Preferment was available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $15 for success with Ladbrokes prior to his win in the Turnbull Stakes this afternoon.
