Trainer Pat Carey will race the talented Cedarberg this spring knowing that he is assured of a start in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The five-year-old gelding qualified for the two prestigious spring carnival features when he won the $2.25 million The BMW in April.
“It’s a nice position to be in,” Carey said.
“He’s a sound five-year-old and many of his age group aren’t there, such as So You Think, who is overseas, and Monaco Consul is retired and some struggled during the autumn.”
Cedarberg did not qualify for a start in last year’s Melbourne Cup after finishing an unlucky second in the Herbert Power Stakes the month before.
Carey believes that Cedarberg is now at the perfect age to claim a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup victory.
“It is an extremely tough assignment trying to qualify four-year-olds for the Cups,” Carey said.
“To qualify in one preparation you have got to do something unique and that is quite taxing.
“(Melbourne Cup runner-up) Maluckyday and Linton (unplaced in the Melbourne Cup) both had taxing spring four-year-old careers and I think history is showing now that the Melbourne Cup is an older horses’ race.
“You only have to look at the deeds of Delta Blues (2006) and Americain last year.
“They were massively mature horses compared to the other horses and it shows through in the finish.”
Cedarberg will begin his spring campaign in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
“He has got a nice race under his belt (The BMW) and he is going to come into the spring without the struggle of having to qualify which is very comforting,” Carey said.
“We will be able to run him where we want and give the horse the campaign that best suits him.”
The Helenus gelding has had just 16 race starts during his career.
“He hasn’t been unduly tested and hasn’t been taxed,” Carey said.
“He is almost a fresh horse and because of that we can afford to start slowly tightening the screws on him now.
“He is ticking over nicely, looks well, and we are happy with where he is at.”