Set Square was included in the 2015 P.B. Lawrence Stakes that were released yesterday, but trainer Ciaron Maher has confirmed that the talented mare will not contest the Group 2 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Set Square is set to return to the races in the 2015 Memsie Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Set Square made the first public appearance of her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a quiet trial over 800 metres at Cranbourne and Maher told AAP that he was happy with the effort of the Crown Oaks winner, but he now believes that she will need another trial before she returns to the races in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
“She was good,” Maher said.
“It was a pretty quick trial.
“She got back and it’s hard to make up ground in a short trial on that sort of ground.
“Mark Zahra said she was good through the line and she’ll have another trial at Cranbourne in a fortnight.
“She’ll probably resume in the Memsie.
“I just felt she probably needs another trial to bring her up to match practice.”
Set Square made her racing debut less than a year ago with a third place finish at Donald, but she went on to take out the Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 18 in just her third race start before she outstayed Thunder Lady to claim an impressive victory in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6.
A great deal was expected of Set Square heading into the 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing and she made a promising start with a second place finish behind Sweet And Speedy in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 21 before she was third behind Noble Protector and Marianne in the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at Flemington on March 14.
Set Square was sent to Sydney for the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 and she received a lovely run into the race, but she was under pressure a long way from home and weakened late to finish 11th, which led to her withdrawal from the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is the major 2015 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Set Square and she will be Maher’s third runner in the Caulfield Cup after previously missing the placings with Mr O’Ceirin (11th in 2013) and Moudre (14th in 2012).
