The Darley team has persevered with stakeswinner Rarefied and the talented gelding makes his long-awaited comeback at Randwick on Saturday.
The five-year-old, who is a half-brother to Group One-winning mare Beaded, hasn’t raced for nearly 18 months due to injury but lines up in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m) and is one of the most interesting runners on the eight-race Sydney program.
As a three-year-old Rarefied won the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) and was placed another four times at stakes level including finishing third to Black Caviar and Wanted in the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m).
“He’s in the same sort of boat as Erewhon, although he’s actually had longer out than Erewhon,” Brad Widdup, who is stable foreman to trainer Peter Snowden, said.
“He (Rarefied) actually did a tendon initially. We brought him back and had him close to racing again and he had a quarter crack on both sides of his foot.
“Everything looks great now, he’s had a good preparation and the horse looks great.”
Group One winner Erewhon returned from a year off the scene at Rosehill last Saturday and ran an encouraging second to the promising Somepin Anypin.
Rarefied won a Warwick Farm trial over 800m earlier this month and Widdup said the gelding was in good order for his return.
“He should run well, we’re not expecting him to win but he should be able to put a forward showing in,” he said.
Beaded has been a model of consistency at the top level in recent seasons with a Group One Doomben 10,000 win and six other placings at Group One level.
“He (Rarefied) has got good ability and that’s why we have persevered,” Widdup said.
Beaded was among nominations for Saturday’s Listed Nivison Stakes (1200m) but the Darley team will be represented in that event by Kanzan and Mascareri.
AAP TURF
