Trainer James Cummings has kept Osborne Bulls on the fresh side in an attempt to keep his first up record intact when he lines up in the 2019 Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Osborne Bulls, above, will be trying to keep his perfect first up record intact when he lines up in the 2019 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Osborne Bulls has a perfect three from three first up record and Cummings will put that benchmark to the test when the five year old tackles the 1000m for the first time in the Group 1 sprint down the famous Flemington straight.
“He’s pretty fresh and well and it will be an interesting test for the horse,” Cummings told AAP.
“I’m very happy with his preparation.”
“He’s trialled up in Sydney at Randwick and should be ready to run over five furlongs for the first time in his life.
“I can see our horse building into his work. He’ll probably be beaten for speed for much of the race but he’s a very good finisher.”
Osborne Bulls is the winner of nine of his twelve starts but has only been tested at Group 1 level once for a handy fifth to Jungle Cat in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Osborne Bulls is also a winner down the Flemington straight over 1200m in the Group 2 $300,000 The TAB Stakes two starts after the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Early betting for the Black Caviar Lightning at Ladbrokes.com.au has Osborne Bulls on the third line at $5 behind the Group 1 winning filly Sunlight at $4.20 and Kris Lees’ promising colt Graff at $4.40.
The Tony McEvoy trained Sunlight is also resuming and coming off a 1200m win down the Flemington straight when she took out the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes on the first day of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The lightly raced Graff is the winner of three of his six race starts with only one try in Group 1 company for a third to The Autumn Sun in the $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Early betting for the 2019 Black Caviar Lightning at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Sunlight, $4.40 Graff, $5 Osborne Bulls, $6 In Her Time, $7 Zousain, $9 Lean Mean Machine, $12 Eduardo, Jedastar, $13 Written By, $18 Divine Quality, $31 Usain Bowler, $41 Chauffeur, $67 Glenall, Battle Hero, $81 Missrock.
