Carrara forgotten horse in Guineas
2010-03-12T04:22:12+11:0012th March 2010, 4:22 am
By Robert Windmill
MELBOURNE, March 12 AAP - Caulfield Guineas runner up Carrara will be looking to get one back on star galloper Denman in the Group One Australian Guineas on his way to Sydney for the autumn carnival.
The gelding has twice run second to Denman this campaign but has been significant a drifter in Guineas markets since his last-start fourth against older horses in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on February 17.
Such has been his fall from favour that he was $21 with TAB Sportsbet on Friday but trainer Tony Vasil said Carrara was a better chance than his price suggested.
"He is a bit of a forgotten horse," Vasil said of Carrara.
"He is a very, very honest and genuine horse who has run second to Denman twice this campaign and no other horse has done that."
Denman's market dominance at $1.65 reflects his unbeaten record this campaign.
He improved on his 1-1/2 length win over Carrara first-up in the Listed Zeditave Stakes on January 26 with a 3-1/4 length win over the Elvstroem colt in the Listed Wellington Racing Club Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 6.
Last start Denman beat Guru Bob by the same margin in the Group Two D'Urban Stakes (1400m) while Carrara headed to Mornington.
Carrara finished fourth to Huxssen and in hindsight Vasil says he chose the wrong path.
"We decided to dodge Denman and I probably regret doing what I did," Vasil said.
"I tried to freshen him but he was too advanced to come back to 1200 metres."
Carrara was beaten two lengths in the Hareeba but Vasil said there was plenty of merit in the performance.
"He didn't run badly in a fairly good race where they ran time," he said.
Vasil said Carrara, who won the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last spring, would undoubtedly be better suited over 1600 metres.
The only time he beat Denman home was in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) when he was second to Starspangledbanner while Denman, who had excuses, finished seventh.
"Back to 1600 metres is ideal for him," Vasil said.
He said Carrara worked brilliantly on Wednesday and would go into the Guineas with plans of backing up a week later in Sydney in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
"I think that might be a nice race for him on the proviso he runs a decent race on Saturday," Vasil said.
"He is not a champion but he is a good horse you have to place diligently and in the Phar Lap he would be taking on second tier sort of horses."
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MELBOURNE, March 12 AAP - Caulfield Guineas runner up Carrara will be looking to get one back on star galloper Denman in the Group One Australian Guineas on his way to Sydney for the autumn carnival.
The gelding has twice run second to Denman this campaign but has been significant a drifter in Guineas markets since his last-start fourth against older horses in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on February 17.
Such has been his fall from favour that he was $21 with TAB Sportsbet on Friday but trainer Tony Vasil said Carrara was a better chance than his price suggested.
"He is a bit of a forgotten horse," Vasil said of Carrara.
"He is a very, very honest and genuine horse who has run second to Denman twice this campaign and no other horse has done that."
Denman's market dominance at $1.65 reflects his unbeaten record this campaign.
He improved on his 1-1/2 length win over Carrara first-up in the Listed Zeditave Stakes on January 26 with a 3-1/4 length win over the Elvstroem colt in the Listed Wellington Racing Club Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 6.
Last start Denman beat Guru Bob by the same margin in the Group Two D'Urban Stakes (1400m) while Carrara headed to Mornington.
Carrara finished fourth to Huxssen and in hindsight Vasil says he chose the wrong path.
"We decided to dodge Denman and I probably regret doing what I did," Vasil said.
"I tried to freshen him but he was too advanced to come back to 1200 metres."
Carrara was beaten two lengths in the Hareeba but Vasil said there was plenty of merit in the performance.
"He didn't run badly in a fairly good race where they ran time," he said.
Vasil said Carrara, who won the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last spring, would undoubtedly be better suited over 1600 metres.
The only time he beat Denman home was in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) when he was second to Starspangledbanner while Denman, who had excuses, finished seventh.
"Back to 1600 metres is ideal for him," Vasil said.
He said Carrara worked brilliantly on Wednesday and would go into the Guineas with plans of backing up a week later in Sydney in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
"I think that might be a nice race for him on the proviso he runs a decent race on Saturday," Vasil said.
"He is not a champion but he is a good horse you have to place diligently and in the Phar Lap he would be taking on second tier sort of horses."
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