Carnival plans for Metropolitan favourite Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap hopeful Althoff will be on the line when top jockey Zac Lloyd tests the pair in important lead-up assignments at Newcastle.
Aethelwulf will face the dual challenge of extending beyond 2000m for the first time and rising to stakes company when he chases his fourth successive victory in Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), while Althoff bids to cement his Epsom credentials in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m).
Lloyd has a perfect record on both horses, and says it’s important the Matt Smith-trained Aethelwulf continues his winning sequence to justify his spot at the top of markets for the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick next month.
“He needs to win if he wants to progress to a Metrop,” Lloyd said.
“He’s not well weighted. The top horse has compressed the weights so some nice horses are giving him less kilos than what they should be, so that’s going to be tricky for him.
“But it will be good to see where he’s at. I have a lot of belief in him and so does Matt. Hopefully he can win and win comfortably.
“He’s one of the more exciting horses I’ve sat on just in how he’s progressed every run.”
Among Aethelwulf’s opposition will be topweight and Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard, who will be looking to give local trainer Kris Lees his second Newcastle Cup after Mugatoo was successful six years ago.
Althoff also arrives at his assignment in outstanding form with impressive wins at his past two starts.
Lloyd rated the gelding’s most recent victory at Rosehill as especially convincing and as with Aethelwulf, said Althoff’s performance on Friday would be crucial in determining his next target.
“Barrier one is fantastic for him. He can ‘posi’ up closer than he did the other day,” Lloyd said.
“His last win was full of merit because he had to go back on a track that was favouring leaders, and if he wins at Newcastle, he’ll probably take his place in the Epsom with a light weight.
“So two important races on Friday.”
The Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for the fillies and mares’ rounds out the day’s features, with Lloyd partnering the resuming Polymnia for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Her best performances have been over middle distances, but she can sprint well fresh and has been placed in three of her five first-up runs.
