Trainer Gavin Bedggood set to unveil St Lawrence
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St Lawrence, ex-Ciaron Maher, has won eight of 23 starts and a tick under $1m prizemoney.
The rising seven-year-old was last February purchased for $85,000 and transferred to Bedggood by passionate racehorse owner-breeder Paul Lofitis, of the Lofty Group.
St Lawrence has tuned up with an impressive two-length 1300m Seymour trial win last Wednesday.
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'He might run in The David Bourke or we might wait for an Open 1400m the following Saturday,' Bedggood said.
'We bought him online … he was a good get.
'He'll head towards the Winter Championship hopefully.'
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Bedggood also has new arrival, Casino Seventeen, 2024 Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) winner, set for a Victorian debut in The David Bourke (1600m).
Former West Australian Casino Seventeen, previously trained by Grant and Alana Williams, last raced on New Year's Day when fifth in a bid to defend the Perth Cup title.
Casino Seventeen also won a 1300m trial at Seymour last Wednesday. — Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) January 1, 2024
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Bedggood confirmed Sandown Cup winner Diwali would contest the 2500m race at Headquarters on Saturday, a bridging run to the Flemington Cup (2800m) on July 19.
The astute trainer conceded Diwali would need to go 'to another level' again after rising sharply in rating.
Diwali received a 20-point boost – he now has an 86 benchmark rating – for the Sandown Cup win.
'He's only four and a very sound horse so hopefully he can keep on his upward trajectory,' Bedggood said.
'Our next run or two will tell us, it has to, because his rating jumped up 20 points from that win so he's got to go to another level now too.'
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The lightly-raced stayer has thrived with Bedggood, going from a Benchmark 58 win at Moe to Listed Sandown Cup in four starts.
He placed second on debut for the stable in April in a Benchmark 64.
'He was very good at his first run for me and that horse (winner Fernao) has gone on to run third in the Andrew Ramsden,' Bedggood said.
'We took him to Moe to get a win because his rating allowed us to … he was ridden too close here (Sandown) the (third) start (for stable) and ran a good second.
'We were rapt with his run a fortnight ago, so he should be competitive again.'
Originally published as Trainer Gavin Bedggood to unveil St Lawrence at Flemington, with Sandown Cup winner Diwali to also be entered Horse Racing
The lack of a first-up run in England doesn't have Francesca Cumani 'Believing' in Asfoora's chances of winning back-to-back Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot this week. Opinion
Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner thinks an Alex Rae-trained gelding is primed to notch a second career victory on Monday's meeting at Pakenham Synthetic.
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