Cauthen To Resume In Telegraph Handicap

Talented colt Cauthen will return to the races in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in New Zealand on Saturday.

Cauthen is on track to contest the Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.

Cauthen is on track to contest the Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Cauthen made his racing debut with an unbelievable eight and a half lengths victory at Te Rapa and did enough to earn a trip to Melbourne for the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

The Darci Brahma colt finished an unlucky second behind Clevadude in the Sweeney Can Do Agents Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 3 before stamping himself as a Caulfield Guineas contender with a win over Shamus Award and Long John in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m).

Cauthen was well-backed in the lead-up to the Listed Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400m), but finished a disappointing 12th and was found to be suffering from the thumps and shin soreness after the race.

Trainer Andrew Campbell elected to send Cauthen to the spelling paddock following and told Racing Ahead this morning that he has been very happy with the condition of the colt since he returned to trackwork and rates him a clear winning chance in the Telegraph Handicap this weekend.

“He is coming along good and we are really wrapped with the way that he has come through,” Campbell said.

“It is a big ask, but he is only carrying 52kg and we think he is a pretty special so it would be nice to see him run a good race.

“He had that shin soreness and a bout of the thumps, but his shins are 100 percent and he looks a picture.”

A return to Australia is on the agenda for Cauthen and Campbell has races like the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 and the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on February 22 in mind for his star galloper.

There are plenty of big money races available for Cauthen during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but Campbell doesn’t want the three-year-old to have too long a preparation; with connections eyeing a potential trip to the United Kingdom for the Royal Ascot meeting.

“Depending on how he goes on Saturday, there are a couple of nice races in Melbourne that we can look at over 1200 and 1400 metres.

“We will get Saturday out of the way and hopefully he is as good as we think he is and he can head back over to the Melbourne.

“We could go to Sydney but we will probably tip him out for a spell.

“There is a bit of interest in him to go to England if he fronts up and we will maybe look at that.”

Cauthen is currently on the second line of 2014 Telegraph Handicap betting markets behind Tony Pike-trained mare Waterford.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.