Talented colt Al Aneed bounced back from a midweek defeat to confirm his black-type potential in Saturday’s Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield.
Al Aneed ($12) will now be aimed at the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington in two weeks and the Group Two Sandown Guineas after powering home along the inside to win Saturday’s 1400m event by three-quarters of a length.
Al Aneed winning the D'Urban Gothic Stakes at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
“He’s a really nice horse, stakes-class,” winning jockey Glen Boss said.
“I’m glad he got the opportunity to show that today because I told everyone he was a stakes-class horse from his maiden win but then he went awful last start (at Mornington).
“Today was the real horse.”
Trainer Mick Price decided to apply a tongue tie and blinkers and instructed Boss to ride the horse in quieter fashion.
It worked as the colt came from well back in the field to defeat Crystal Web ($16) with Limes ($5) a nose away third.
Al Aneed’s victory in the second race came after premier Melbourne jockey Luke Nolen started Caulfield Cup day the same way he had for the previous three years, with a victory.
Nolen partnered the Peter Moody-trained filly A Time For Julia to win the Snowhite Maintenance Plate (1400m).
“I can’t wait to see her in the autumn with the benefit of some good spring weather on her back,” Nolen said.
