Ayers Rock has been backed into 2015 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic odds of $15 and trainer Shawn Mathrick is confident that the promising colt can make it two wins on the trot in the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ayers Rock led from start to finish to take out the UCI Stakes and he will have the chance to make it back-to-back wins in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Ayers Rock recorded his maiden race win when he led from start to finish to record a dominant three lengths win at Mildura on August 3 and he produced a slightly flat effort at Sandown on September 2 before he was only narrowly denied by Celtic Tiger in the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) in Adelaide on September 12.
The Nicconi colt went into the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 4 as a $17 chance, but he took up the running in the early stages of the race before he kicked away from his rivals to record an impressive win.
Mathrick believes that Ayers Rock has taken plenty of improvement from the UCI Stakes and he is confident that his star galloper is ready to run another big race in the 2015 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic.
“He had an easy week after the race and we galloped him on Tuesday and we thought that he had improved,” Mathrick said.
“We don’t have to lead the race.
“If somebody wants to be crazy and try to lead it then we are happy to sit outside them, but he is such a big striding horse that he will probably end up in front.
“If somebody goes mad and they want to lead it then that will suit us perfectly.
“He has a fair crack over the first 600 and for them to try and stay with it they might burn their own candles out.
“He can run the trip and he looked strong on the line at Flemington.
“The extra 200 metres will suit him down to the ground.”
The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) is the major 2015 Spring Racing Carnival target for Ayers Rock and Mathrick believes that the three-year-old is ticking over nicely for the $1.5 million race that will be held at Flemington on October 31.
While Mathrick believes that Ayers Rock is fit enough to win the Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic, he still does not believe that the progressive galloper is at peak fitness and he will take more improvement into the Victoria Derby.
“He is not screwed down tight,” Mathrick said.
“After the Mildura run we put him in the paddock for two and a half weeks and he did nothing at all.
“His coat is really shining, he is looking like he is tightening up and whatever he does on Saturday, I am pretty bullish about him going back to Flemington for the Derby.”
Ayers Rock is currently available at 2015 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic odds of $15 and he is on the sixth line of betting behind Sacred Eye ($4), Lizard Island ($5), Tivaci ($6), Ragnaar ($6) and Get The Picture ($8.50).
