Trainer Jim Conlan says Rekindled Interest is coming along well for his spring campaign which will begin in Saturday’s Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.
The winner of the Group Two AAMI Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley hasn’t raced since finishing fifth to Lion Tamer on a wet track in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last spring.
“He’s coming along well and he’s going to kick off at the weekend,” Conlan said.
“I took him to Sale yesterday (Sunday) and gave him a gallop and he worked quite nicely.
“He hadn’t had a trial so far this prep so he’s going to go into the race off a fairly long break.
“But he’s good, everything is right with him at the moment and he’s really working nicely.
“I would expect him to need this run but he’s heading in the right direction for the spring.
“He should run a nice race and improve from there.”
Conlan said the Redoute’s Choice four-year-old would be nominated for both the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 and the $2.65 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15.
But he won’t be nominated for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup.
“I won’t enter him for the Melbourne Cup. On his pedigree and the type of horse he is I don’t think he could possibly run the two miles,” Conlan said.
“But I’ll certainly enter him for the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup.
“The Cox Plate is a race I’m looking at and because of the light weight he would get in with maybe the Toorak Handicap would be a good race for him too.
“He’s run well at Caulfield before and he’s been pretty effective at a mile.
“The 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup is probably stretching his pedigree a bit, although he did win a 2040m race as a three-year-old.
“The Derby was one of those days where the form just doesn’t have any relevance as it was that wet and the horse (Lion Tamer) we beat (by 2-1/2 lengths) in the AAMI Vase, beat him by more than 12 lengths.
“Lion Tamer was just the one who got through it and when you get days like that I don’t think it is a true indication.
Conlan said Dwayne Dunn would ride Rekindled Interest in Saturday’s race, which attracted 24 entries on Monday.
Owner Lloyd Williams has nominated eight imported horses for the Aurie’s Star including highly-rated stayers Alandi, Midas Touch and At First Sight.
Alandi is a dual Group One winner of the 2009 Irish St Leger and Prix Du Cadran and returns to Australia after being sent back to his original trainer John Oxx.
Midas Touch was runner-up in both the 2010 Irish Derby and English St Leger, while At First Sight was runner-up in the 2010 English Derby.
AAP TURF
