Jockey Jordan Childs eyeing Group 3 Monash Stakes with Cleo Cat at Caulfield
Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig earmarked the Sir John Monash Stakes as a target for smart mare Cleo Cat as the mare started her preparation back in May.
Dabernig wanted to have Romantic Choice and Fickle alongside Cleo Cat in top form in the last month of the season but the latter will be the only stable representative in Saturday's feature.
'The theory is to have them in work all through winter and maybe have a crack at the Bletchingly or Monash, those sprints they have in July before the spring horses get fit,' Dabernig said in May.
'Often you get the spring horses in it that need the run and the fit winter horse can pick them up.'
Cleo Cat won a Group 3 sprint in Adelaide on May 10 before running second to Niance in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes and Marble Nine in an open sprint at Flemington at subsequent runs.
Marble Nine went on to salute in a Listed contest at Flemington last Saturday, boosting Childs' confidence in Cleo Cat returning to winning ways in the Monash Stakes.
'There's good form around her,' Childs said.
Speaking to Tom, he said she's in good shape so I'm going in confident on Saturday.'
Cleo Cat has remained solid in early Monash Stakes betting at $5.50 despite drawing barrier 10 in the 11-horse field.
However, Childs said varying factors such as the prevailing winds or track condition, could mitigate the effects of the potentially awkward barrier.
'She doesn't have to lead and if the track is a bit wet too, it might not be a bad thing being out there,' Childs said.
'The other side of it is that there is only one corner so you can sit a bit wide in that Caulfield chute.
'It will depend on how the day is playing and how the race unfolds but she is in great form.'
While Childs kept an open mind on his Monash Stakes tactics, he ruled out firing Cleo Cat out of the barriers to make her take a forward position.
He said the mare would find her own spot early in the $200,000 race.
'Every time I've ridden her, I've just let her race where she's comfortable,' Childs said.
'You don't pull but you don't push her either.
'Whether that lands us in front or taking a sit, you've just got to be really smooth on her to keep the momentum and keep her in a happy spot.'
Marine Empress at Geelong on Friday.
The Grahame Begg -trained Marine Empress ran on hard for second on debut at Geelong with the daughter of Camelot showing she had a bright future as distances increased.
'She hadn't shown at home so we weren't too sure how she'd go first-up,' Childs said.
'She drew wide, so we rode her nice and quiet but she absolutely rocketed home.
'She feels like a stayer that is a very kind ride. She just comes back underneath you and that will take her a long way.'
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