Cascabel has a few factors in his favour as he goes for his first-black type win in Monday’s Listed $100,000 Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths has been frustrated by three second placings at Morphettville, Caulfield and last start at Flemington plus a couple of close-up fourths since the Bel Esprit six-year-old recorded his most recent win nine runs back at Caulfield.
On that occasion he was sent out at $20 and came from last to beat Rocking Force over 1100m in April.
The gelding ran fourth to Rocking Force, beaten less then 1-1/2 lengths, in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks day at his only previous appearance at black-type level.
Griffiths believes he gets his chance in Monday’s 1200m feature being well drawn in barrier five and having a liking for Caulfield where he has won twice.
He also has the reasonable weight of 54kg, a kilogram above the limit, and will appreciate the likely good speed in the race through the likes of Periduki.
“It all looks very good and hopefully he can make up for all those near misses by winning on Monday because he certainly deserves it,” Griffiths said.
Griffiths said Cascabel had trained on well since his half-head second to Translation over the straight 1200m course at Flemington on December 10 when he finished strongly in a race controlled from the front by the winner.
“He’s worked well and I’m very pleased with his condition,” the Cranbourne trainer said.
“I’m optimistic that he’ll hold his form and if that is the case I think he’s one of the leading contenders.”
Cascabel, to be ridden by Chris Symons, has firmed from $11 to $7.50 with TAB Sportsbet which has Luke Nolen’s mount Mr Make Believe as the $4.60 favourite.
Better known as a soft-track galloper, Commands five-year-old Mr Make Believe has won eight of his 13 starts.
Last preparation he won six races including four straight in town.
“He doesn’t know how to run bad this horse,” leading trainer Peter Moody said.
“He’s raced through the grades and done a hell of a job for a horse that I’ve always believed to be a nice horse but not a superstar.
“He puts himself into the race, there’s nice speed here and he’ll probably park just off the lead.”
Moody will also saddle up stable newcomer Shout Out Loud ($21) who is best known as the winner of the 2010 Darwin Cup with South African Robbie Fradd on board.
Formerly with Darwin trainer Kerry Petrick, the Ne Coupez Pas six-year-old suffered a tendon injury and hasn’t raced since winning over 1600m at Morphettville in January.
“He has got good fresh form and his work’s been solid and he could run a cheeky race,” Moody said of the gelding who will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.
“He’s owned by some friends from the (Northern) Territory and he’s been rated out of races up there so they brought him down to see if he can measure up here and I like what I have seen.”
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