Trainer Tony Gollan believes that talented gelding Looks Like The Cat is thriving ahead of the 2014 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Sunday.
Looks Like The Cat has the chance to record his maiden win at Group level in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas Prelude on Sunday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Looks Like The Cat returned to the races in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 13 and finished second behind the speedy Rich Enuff to stamp himself as a genuine Caulfield Guineas contender.
Gollan told RSN this morning that Looks Like The Cat had taken a great deal of benefit out of his first-up performance and the leading Brisbane trainer could not be happier with the Husson gelding heading into the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) this weekend.
“He was very fit before he went to Melbourne and it did take him the best part of ten days to really settle in down there, but since that run he has really thrived and he is doing well in the feed tin and he is really starting to get on his right lead leg in his work,” Gollan said.
“I was really impressed by what I saw on Tuesday morning with him and he is starting to come in in the coat, which is very pleasing.
“He has really improved this horse and obviously getting out in trip is the key for him.
“I am looking forward to Sunday.”
Looks Like The Cat did not appear to have any problems handling the famous Flemington straight in the Danehill Stakes, but Gollan admits that he is worried about how the three-year-old will handle his first race start at Caulfield on Sunday.
Gollan believes that Looks Like The Cat produced his best performance as a juvenile when third in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) on the larger Eagle Farm track and feels that the gelding will be better on bigger racecourses, but is still hopeful that $60,000 weanling purchase can record his maiden win at Group level in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
“The query is going to be Caulfield,” Gollan said.
“He really looks like a Flemington or a big track kind of horse, but he has drawn perfect on the weekend in the middle of them and you would hope to land midfield somewhere with a bit of cover.
“Damian knows that horse well now and he will put him into the race at the right time.
“I’m sure that we will see those big white legs getting to the line pretty hard in the last furlong.
“My worry is second-up 1400, but hopefully the blinkers help him this preparation.”
Looks Like The Cat is currently available at 2014 Caulfield Guineas Prelude odds of $3.50 and is a narrow favourite from Rich Enuff ($5) in the betting market for the Group 3 event with Ladbrokes Australia.
