The Futurity Stakes in February is shaping as a watershed autumn carnival event with Cox Plate placegetter Rekindled Interest the latest big name being aimed at the Group One.
The Caulfield race is on the agenda for champion Black Caviar as her first test over 1400 metres with Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker also set to run.
Trainer Jim Conlan said Rekindled Interest, who finished third in the Cox Plate (2040m) on October 22, would be kept to shorter distances in the autumn, with the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in Sydney a target.
Rekindled Interest is due back in Conlan’s Mornington stable next week.
The four-year-old lost momentum when he was involved in a bumping duel with Efficient on the home turn in the Cox Plate and Conlan said he would have a light autumn with the Cox Plate, the weight-for-age championship, again in mind.
“He was great, he showed that he was up to that level,” Conlan told Racing Victoria.
“He was pretty unlucky not to win the Cox Plate and he came through the preparation really well.”
“He went out to the paddock in good order and he’s done well since he’s been out, so it’s all looking fairly promising for the long term.
“I would think we’ll pretty much keep him to around about a mile for the autumn, just so he’s not overtaxed through the autumn and then we can give him another crack at the spring next year.”
The $400,000 George Ryder Stakes is run at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day, April 7.
Rekindled Interest also finished third in his other Group One test during the spring in the Mackinnon Stakes won by Glass Harmonium.
AAP TURF
