Kiwi trainer Andrew Campbell is expecting his Caulfield Guineas hopeful Cauthen to show further improvement when he gets his chance on the more spacious Flemington and Caulfield tracks.
Cauthen stretches out to win the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Cauthen has had two runs in Australia, both at the tricky Moonee Valley course, and after being beaten at his first attempt, came out and scored a decisive win in the Listed $120,000 Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
James McDonald gave Cauthen a good run through the race but said the three year old wasn’t completely comfortable negotiating on the tight home bend, indicating that the wide open spaces of the other Melbourne tracks would suit him better.
“He still struggled around that bend, but as soon as he straightened up, he got going,” McDonald said.
Campbell was relieved to get a win on the board with Cauthen and is certain there is a lot more improvement left in the Darci Brahma colt when he gets to the bigger tracks.
“For sure,’’ Campbell told the Herald Sun.
“He’s still pretty immature but he’s learning with each run. It was a relief to get that win out of the way on Saturday because he might have needed it to get into the Guineas.’’
Cauthen is now equal favourite with Prince Harada at $6 for the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 and Saturday’s first prizemoney cheque of $72,000 will go a long a way of helping him get into the field.
Cauthen’s next run will be the Listed $120,000 Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 then will have his final Caulfield Guineas lead up run in the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 29.
