Youngstar’s form around champion mare Winx is perfect for her chances in Saturday’s Group 1 $5m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.
Youngstar, above with red cap, is one of the main chances in the 2018 Caulfield Cup after running second to Winx, above, in the Turnbull Stakes. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx is rated the best race horse in the world and the Chris Waller trained Youngstar got to within one length of her super star stablemate when second in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6.
The Winx form is the best form line in the country and Waller said that the Turnbull Stakes run was the perfect lead up for Youngstar heading towards the 2400m off the Caulfield Cup.
“(The Turnbull was) perfect,” Waller told the Herald Sun.
“Obviously running second behind Winx is good in every race, but when it’s your semi-final run into your grand final, it was a perfect run, showing that she’s up to the class and will be better suited to the handicap on Saturday.”
“There are no negative signs.”
Youngstar showed her staying ability during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival at Doomben when she stormed home to win the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) and then ran third in the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m).
Youngstar has had three runs back for the Spring Carnival with Caulfield Cup jockey Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle and she has shown gradual improvement as Waller stepped her up in distance during her preparation.
The High Chaparral mare kicked off her campaign with a first up sixth in the Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 1 followed by a third in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill three weeks later before her Turnbull Stakes second to Winx.
Youngstar at $5.50 is having a tight battle with the $5 favourite Kings Will Dream at the top of the Caulfield Cup market order while the Aidan O’Brrien trained The Cliffsofmoher is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $7.
