The 2014 The BMW field is set to be packed full of quality; with eight Group 1 winners included in the nominations for the $1.5 million event that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Silent Achiever upset It's A Dundeel and Fiorente to win the 2014 Ranvet Stakes and will have the chance to score another big race win in The BMW this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ranvet Stakes winner Silent Achiever will have the opportunity to record her second straight victory at Group 1 level, after she took out the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22, and will be contesting The BMW for the second year in a row following his second place finish behind Fiveandahalfstar in 2013.
Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel will also be backing up from the Ranvet Stakes and connections will be hoping they can find their best form after the expected match race between the pair failed to eventuate in the Group 1 event.
It’s A Dundeel is chasing the maiden win of his 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign after finishing second in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and third in the Ranvet Stakes, while Fiorente started his preparation with wins in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has never had success in The BMW and has included Group 1 winners Foreteller and Hawkspur in the nominations for this year’s edition of the race.
Foreteller was slightly disappointing in the Ranvet Stakes, but Hawkspur looks to be close to his best form after flashing home late to finish fourth behind Silent Achiever in the Group 1 event.
The Macedon Lodge team of Lloyd Williams also has two Group 1 winners in the 2014 The BMW nominations; with 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and 2013 Sydney Cup winner Mourayan set to contest the race.
Green Moon pushed Fiorente all the way in the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 1 and Mourayan was only narrowly denied a second Group 1 win in the Peter Young Stakes by the fast-finishing imported stayer.
The final Group 1 winner that has been included in The BMW nominations is 2013 Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs, who will be having her first race start in Sydney.
Voleuse De Coerus made her Group 1 debut with a credible tenth place finish in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5 last year and resumed with a strong fifth in the Australian Cup.
Other interesting runners in the 2014 The BMW nominations include progressive Chris Waller-trained stayer Junoob, Rosehill Guineas fourth placegetter Savvy Nature, Australian Derby hopeful Surge Ahead and Jamie Edwards-trained Sertorius.
