Entirely Platinum has started what connections hope will be a Caulfield Cup campaign with a comfortable win in the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Entirely Platinum will head towards the Epsom Handicap and Caulfield Cup after winning at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Entirely Platinum was extremely well-backed in the lead-up to the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club Handicap after he scored a barrier trial victory over Messene and Royal Descent at Rosehill Gardens on August 4 and he lived up to the hype to score a strong win.
The Pentire gelding was caught wide in the early stages of the race, but jockey James McDonald was able to get the five-year-old in a nice position just behind the leaders and waited very patiently before asking him for an extra effort.
McDonald certainly did not get to the bottom of Entirely Patiently, but some vigorous hands and heels riding was enough to give the Caulfield Cup hopeful an easy first-up victory from Mighty Lucky and Greatwood.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes admitted after the race that Entirely Platinum had done a few things wrong in the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club Handicap, but he was happy to see the progressive galloper record a first-up win.
“Obviously we don’t really trial them up like we did with him and he has done it on his own merits,” Hawkes said.
“He jumped alright and they didn’t go overly hard, but he overraced a bit and he did a few things wrong.
“James didn’t panic on him and the last thing I said to him before going out was just ride him and don’t go for him until he really had to.
“He is in for a long spring and he won and he won good.
“He is just a lovely horse going forward and he has better things hopefully.”
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) will be the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target, but the talented stayer could be given his maiden opportunity at Group 1 level in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.
“He will head that way, but obviously he is Melbourne bound later on,” Hawkes said.
“Hopefully he can get over a bit of ground and 2400 metres is the aim, but we are taking it one race at a time.
“It is pretty exciting and good for owners because they have been patient and they paid a lot for him.”
Entirely Platinum has not recorded seven wins from his 14 race starts and has accumulated over $300,000 in prizemoney for connections.
