Spring is still a little over three weeks away but there is a hint of it at Caulfield.
Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield is highlighted by the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) which, under its previous name of the J J Liston Stakes, and when run at Sandown, was a traditional kick-off race for spring contenders.
Big name stayers would use the race at Sandown and build through a weight-for-age program before heading to their main targets of the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate.
In recent years, the P B Lawrence has not had the same impact, but Saturday’s edition has brought together a field of 13 with nine of the combatants first-up.
Leading trainer Chris Waller has accepted with three of his vast team of high-quality gallopers – Wootton Verni, Soul Of Spain and Ohope Wins – and with the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield approaching, Waller is looking to separate his team.
“It’s just a starting point,” Waller said.
“It just keeps them away from the Winx the following week, and the Memsie as they work their way towards nice middle-distance and staying races.”
All three gallopers are entered in the Group 1 Cox Plate, this year run over 2000m at Flemington and are expected to be among entries for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) when they close next Tuesday and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington when nominations are taken on September 1. Those looking for the best betting apps Australia will be watching these early spring performances closely.
Ohope Wins will be lining up for her first full campaign in Waller’s care.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old was trained in New Zealand by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when successful in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Ellerslie in February before transferring to Waller’s care for a Sydney autumn campaign.
After running fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), Ohope Wins came out to win the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April.
Asked if Ohope Wins had furnished, Waller said she had.
“She looks really good,” Waller said.
“She has come back stronger, and she could run well fresh. She’s a talented horse.”
Waller has engaged Damian Lane for Ohope Wins with Saturday’s meeting the jockey’s first in the metropolitan area of Melbourne since early April following a stint riding in Japan.
