Cauthen has been included in the nominations for the Benchmark 90 Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday and trainer Trent Busuttin is delighted with the way the promising galloper has settled in Australia.
Cauthen is set to return to the races at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Cauthen has not been seen at the races since he finished a close second behind Silver Eclipse in the Mitsubishi Electric Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on January 25, but is working towards the start of his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, which Busuttin is hoping will include a tilt at the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
Busuttin told RSN that Cauthen has impressed with his trackwork since returning to Australia and the rising trainer is confident that the Darci Brahma entire can return to his best form during his spring campaign.
“He is excellent and he is thriving,” Busuttin said.
“He arrived a week later and he settled in beautifully.
“He had a gallop on Saturday; Hugh Bowman rode him and was very impressed with the horse.
“He has beaten a couple of handy horses this time last year in Long John and Shamus Award and he pulled up sore from his last run in Melbourne and needed a very long spell to get over his worries.
“We are as confident as we can be that he can come back.
“The only times that he has been beaten he has had a genuine excuse.”
Cauthen stamped himself as a horse to watch when he won by an incredible eight and a half lengths in a maiden at Te Rapa on July 3 and he made his Australian racing debut with an unlucky second place finish behind Clevadude in the Sweeney Can Do Agents Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 3.
The talented entire did plenty wrong in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 24, but he was still able to record a one and a half lengths victory from subsequent Cox Plate and Caulfield Guineas winners Shamus Award and Long John.
Cauthen went into the Listed Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 as a clear favourite, but he could finish no better than 12th and was found to be suffering from thumps after the race.
Cauthen is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $41 in the betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.
