Joseph O’Brien’s travelling stable foreman Mark Power believes Buckhurst will be ready for the Caulfield Cup after settling in well at Werribee.
Power said the quartet of horses they brought from Ireland, which also included last year’s Melbourne Cup runners Master Of Reality and Twilight Payment as well as Pondus, had adjusted to their new surroundings.
“They took the flight well and have arrived in Werribee in good condition. I’m happy with their weight and they are all moving well,” Power said.
Power said they almost brought Buckhurst to Australia last year but were happy they had waited 12 months.
“He’s grown and matured. There’s been no harm to wait a year with him and he’s taken it all in his stride,” Power said.
He felt Buckhurst’s last-start fifth behind Tiger Moth in the Group Three Kilternan Stakes at The Curragh was a good lead-in run for the Caulfield Cup 2020.
“It was a good run to stay on for fifth as he gave weight away,” Power said.
He also confirmed stablemate Pondus, who performed poorly in the Ebor Handicap at York, would run in next week’s Geelong Cup.
Power said both last year’s fourth placegetter Master Of Reality and eleventh placed Twilight Payment were on track for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Power believed Master Of Reality was getting better with racing and won his last start in good style when successful in Ireland.
He said that it would be an improved version of Twilight Payment this trip as they had now trained him for a full year.
“He’s improved every run. That was a great run last start when he finished third in the Irish St Leger,” he said.
