Melbourne trip on the line for Cauthen

By Alastair Bull

AUCKLAND, Jan 17 AAP - Trainer Andrew Campbell admits he is on edge as exciting three-year-old Cauthen resumes in the Group One Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.

Injury curtailed Cauthen's spring campaign in Melbourne but not before he won the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley, beating subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and Caulfield Guineas winner Long John.

Campbell says he's not concerned about the shin soreness which kept Cauthen away from the Caulfield Guineas, but he is hoping for a good effort on Saturday ahead of a planned Australian campaign.

"It's just a big race and I'd get a bit nervous anyway," Campbell said.

"It's quite a big ask really, fresh up over 1200 metres in a Group One, but I'm very happy with the horse. I couldn't fault him."

Campbell has a small team at Opaki but he knows how to train a good horse. His previous charges include Tavistock, a Group winner on both sides of the Tasman, and he has no doubt Cauthen is at least as talented.

"They're different types, but ability-wise this horse is the best I've ever saddled up, for sure," he said.

A good performance from Cauthen will mean another trip to Melbourne, with two weight-for-age 1400m races at Caulfield being targeted - the CF Orr Stakes on February 8 and the Futurity Stakes on February 22.

Cauthen's chances in the Telegraph have improved with the withdrawal of one of his main rivals, Railway Stakes runner-up Waterford, with a pastern injury.

But he does face a strong field, including Group One weight-for-age winners Nashville and Final Touch and the improving sprinters Barbaric and Trepidation, the latter to be ridden by Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla.