A better indication of just how much of an impact Australasian-bred stayers can make during the spring should emerge after the Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday.
At least four Cups horses of Australian and New Zealand heritage – Lamasery, Lights Of Heaven, Polish Knight and Secret Admirer – are among 11 entries for the Group Two weight-for-age race at Warwick Farm.
They will be out to lead a fightback of sorts for their breed after European horses filled the first three placings in the Listed Premier’s Cup on Saturday – a result which renewed predictions of a northern hemisphere clean sweep of major staying races in Sydney and Melbourne during the spring.
David Vandyke is one trainer who hasn’t given up on his horse going against what is becoming an accepted trend in Australian racing.
Vandyke has Lamasery, a son of leading Australia sire Commands, ready to continue a weight-for-age build-up to his major spring goals in the Chelmsford over 1600m.
“Lamasery ran very well in Melbourne last year against Americain and Manighar so that gives him enough legitimacy as a Cups contender,” the Warwick Farm trainer said.
In a promising spring return, Lamasery made a searching run in the Warwick Stakes before just missing a placing.
“He took a few days to get back on his feed but generally he pulled up better than I had hoped for,” Vandyke said.
Lamasery holds an entry for the Metropolitan, Sydney’s premier spring staying race, as well as the Caulfield Cup.
“He will also be in the Melbourne Cup nominations when they come out but I don’t want to look too far ahead with a horse like this because of the problems he’s had,” Vandyke said.
Vandyke confirmed Peter Robl would ride Lamasery for the first time on Saturday.
Established Group One horses nominated for the race include stablemates Rangirangdoo and Danleigh as well as the veteran New Zealander Ginga Dude.
All Too Hard, beaten out of a place over 1200m in the Run To The Rose on Saturday, is a surprise entry.
Nathan Tinkler’s half-brother to Black Caviar is also nominated for the Makybe Stakes at Flemington.
Jim Cassidy, meanwhile, returns from an extended winter break to ride the Tinkler-owned Maules Creek in the Chelmsford – a race he has won three times.
Cassidy’s Chelmsford winners have been High Regard (1989), Soho Square (1993) and March Hare (1994), and while Maules Creek can’t yet match their records, there are genuine spring hopes for the five-year-old.
“His first-up run was encouraging considering he looked very, very dour in his two trials,” Patinack Farm racing manager Robyn Hartney said.
