Imported galloper Renew begins his second Australian campaign as his trainer Archie Alexander starts his second year of training.
Renew came to Australia with the international horses for last year’s spring in the care of Marco Botti, but after disappointing in the Herbert Power Stakes was transferred to Alexander.
The trainer was little known when he saddled Renew in last year’s Caulfield Cup, which just happened to be Alexander’s sixth starter in a race.
Alexander’s first year garnered five city winners – four at stakes level – with Renew providing him his first in the Sandown Cup last November after running second in a Melbourne Cup day support race.
Renew starts a spring campaign over 2040m at Moonee Valley on Saturday having not raced since finishing 10th in the Sydney Cup.
Weighted at 50kg in the Caulfield Cup and holding an entry for the Melbourne Cup, Alexander is again looking more towards the two races he contested last year than the Melbourne Cup.
“The Melbourne Cup would be a bit more realistic than a Caulfield Cup as he’s a dour stayer but he’s a fair bit off that,” Alexander said.
“Realistically he’s probably better off in the race he ran second in last year and then the Sandown Cup.
“Like a lot of European horses they’re better at their second prep here.
“He’s been here one or two weeks short of a year so he’s fully acclimatised now.”
Alexander said Saturday was a good starting point for the gelding who has trialled and galloped well for his return.
“I’m not saying it’s a weak race but he has run in Group Ones and Group Twos and Listed races and this is only a handicap,” Alexander said.
