Anthony Freedman trained Lucas Cranach has finished too strong to win the 2012 Peter Young Stakes ahead of Bart Cummings trained Illo and Peter Moody trained Manighar in thirdFormer German stayer Lucas Cranach is pressing Americain for Australian Cup favouritism after a stunning first-up win in the Group Two Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.
Having his first start since finishing third to Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup, the five-year-old thrilled his Australian connections with his dazzling acceleration to win his first race since joining Anthony Freedman’s stable last spring.
Freedman feared Saturday’s 1800-metre weight-for-age race would be too short for Lucas Cranach who had never raced under 2000 metres in his first 11 starts but the entire quickly put the race beyond doubt.
After settling last jockey Nash Rawiller bided his time and declared it a “soft win at the finish”.
Lucas Cranach ($7.50) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from another German import, Illo ($11), trained by Bart Cummings, while former English stayer Manighar ($6) completed an international trifecta.
TAB Sportsbet tightened Lucas Cranach from $5.50 to $3.60 for the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) on March 10 while 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, who will resume in the Australian Cup, eased fractionally from $3.30 to $3.40.
“It was a very, very impressive win and we will go to Flemington with a bit of confidence,” Freedman said.
“Nash rode him exactly as we wanted and it was good to see the horse produce that turn of foot which we know he’s got.
“It all goes well for the longer races.
“It was important that he came here today and, maybe not win, but run well given that he was going to run in weight-for-age races.
“You don’t know they are weight-for-age horses until they do it and I was impressed with his acceleration.”
Kerrin McEvoy said Illo, who wore concussion plates after a late gear change, ran an encouraging trial for the Australian Cup, a race Cummings is trying to win for the 14th time.
“He was probably entitled to run closer to the winner and he is going to enjoy 2000 metres at Flemington,” McEvoy said.
Manighar, who won first-up at Caulfield two weeks ago, again looked a winning chance in the home straight but was beaten in a photo-finish for second.
Glass Harmonium set a fast pace in front and was another length away fourth while Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, who was a last-start second to Black Caviar in the Orr Stakes, started $2.40 but raced flat and was a well-beaten fifth.
“We didn’t have the prettiest of runs but just getting around the bend she didn’t quicken enough for me and all of sudden horses outsprinted her,” jockey Craig Williams said.
“All in all she was disappointing.”
Southern Speed’s Australian Cup price blew from $4.80 to $12 while Manighar is the $7 third favourite just ahead of Illo ($8).
AAP TURF.
