Danny O’Brien took all before him last spring and he again has a powerful contingent aimed at carnival riches with three of his squadron set for action at Moonee Valley.
They are three-year-old colt Flying Award, last year’s VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound and Team Williams stayer Orderofthegarter.
O’Brien has a big opinion of Flying Award and is aiming him at the 2020 Caulfield Guineas.
The colt will resume in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Flying Award hasn’t started since he won the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington, a race O’Brien said had been a good form reference for the following spring over the past 10 years.
“He had great form as a two-year-old. He has plenty of potential and should be a better three-year-old,” O’Brien said.
“He’s come up in good shape and if he’s racing well the Caulfield Guineas is our aim.”
O’Brien trained Flying Award’s sire Shamus Award to win the Cox Plate as a three-year-old but said the colt had a long way to go to emulate his sire.
“They are different horses. Shamus Award won a Cox Plate and an Australian Guineas and was also placed in a Caulfield Guineas,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien is looking forward to four-year-old mare Miami Bound running on a wet track at Moonee Valley when she resumes in the opening race over 1523m.
“We know she’s at her best on wet tracks. I’m looking forward to seeing her back,” O’Brien said.
“She’s in good order but it’s a big ask to carry 60 kilos against the boys.”
Seven-year-old Orderofthegarter had his first run for O’Brien and his first start in almost two years when he finished second to Romancer over 1600m at Flemington on July 18.
He will run in the 2040m handicap.
“He’s in good shape and getting out in distance should suit. This will get him going and we’ll find out where he sits and whether he can play with the big boys,” O’Brien said.
