Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Descarado showed he was on track for the $3 million Cox Plate with a dominant frontrunning win in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained High Chaparral five-year-old, perfectly handled by Nash Rawiller, jumped straight to the front in the 2000m feature and defied all attempts to run him down.
Rawiller kicked the gelding clear at the top of the straight and he had too much in hand for runner-up Avienus, ridden by Rawiller’s brother Brad, and third placegetter Lights Of Heaven.
“That was brilliant,” Waterhouse said.
“A brilliant ride by Nash and brilliant by the horse.
“He’s come right and he’s come right at the right time.
“On to the Cox Plate – it’s our main mission this year.”
Rawiller said Descarado was a superior stayer and that he was looking forward to the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in two weeks.
“That’s the way to ride him,” he said.
“He’s a very good stayer.
“The Cox Plate is obviously the race we all want to win.”
AAP TURF
