Stablemates French Caution and French Tang hold the key to whether trainer Greg Eurell will be toasting the New Year with French champagne.
The three-year-olds are among just seven acceptors for Saturday night’s $100,000 New Year’s Eve Classic Final (2040m).
Every runner is eligible for restricted races and Eurell has seized the opportunity to have his pair in contention for a slice of the big prizemoney.
“It’s super money for these horses and we are having two bites of the cherry so hopefully something works out for us,” Eurell, who won the Cox Plate over the course two months ago with Pinker Pinker, said.
“Not too many of them in the race have raced beyond a mile (1600m) so it looks a nice race for both my runners.”
French Caution and French Tang were bred by Victoria’s Rangal Park Stud, the home of their sire Ne Coupez Pas, and both gallopers are raced in a partnership managed by Rangal Park’s Eric Buttler.
Eurell said French Tang was a progressive filly who might have an edge on French Caution who is more of a grinding type of stayer.
“I like the filly,” Eurell said. “She’s an improving type.”
He said he would have preferred to have raced French Tang on a bigger track like Bendigo where she won her maiden three starts ago but expects that the step up in distance to 2040 metres at only her fifth run will suit her after a fast-finishing second to Two Sugars at the Valley over 1600 metres on December 9.
“I don’t think the Valley suits her 100 per cent the way she races but I think the trip will,” Eurell said.
“I was very encouraged with her run last start with blinkers on and the way she was making nice ground to the line.”
Apprentice Jake Noonan will ride French Tang who has barrier one while Chris Symons will ride French Caution from the outside gate.
Eurell said that unlike French Tang who races back, French Caution’s best chance would be if he gets up on the pace.
“He’s not a horse with a real big sprint but he keeps grinding away,” Eurell said,
“I think if he rolls forward and he gets a bit of room and into a bit of a rhythm then the Valley is going to suit him.”
French Caution won his Cranbourne maiden over 1400 metres in October and at his fourth race start finished fourth to Westsouthwest over 2000 metres at Caulfield on December 14.
AAP TURF
