Auvray continues stellar Australian form

Auvray
Richard Freedman-trained Auvray has the VRC St Leger on the cards after its win at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photos

FRENCH import Aurvay took time to find its feet after arriving in Australia two years ago, but after breaking through at Randwick two starts ago the gelding repeated the dose in the Group Three Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, which was backing up just a week after a second-placed finish in the Newcastle Cup, turned the tables on the feature winner Broadside, which finished back in third to no dividend.

Broadside’s jockey Tim Clark said the jump in weight was decisive factor in the below par performance.

“He ran well, he was up a bit in weight today,” Clark said.

“That was probably the telling factor, thought he was pretty brave still.”

Admiral Jello ($1.80 at WilliamHill.com.au), which placed third in the Newcastle feature, was just nosed out by Aurvay on the line.

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The win was just Aurvay’s second success since arriving in the country in 2015, but the horse has now either won or come second in its last three starts.

Will Freedman, who was representing the Freedman stable, said racing fitness played a part in the narrow win.

“It was a good race for a five horse field,” Freedman said.

“I think he might have been a touch fitter than the other two and Admiral Jello didn’t get the best gap but full credit to the horse.

“They went a bit slower than we would have liked but full credit to the horse and our team who have done a fantastic job with him, he is an old stayer and they take a lot of management.”

It has been a long road for Aurvay, but the penny finally seems to have dropped for the former French star.

Jockey Glyn Schofield said the horse has been a difficult runner to control, but believes Freedman may have unlocked the gelding’s potential as a seven-year-old.

“Richard has certainly done wonders with this fellow,” Schofield said.

He’s been an enigma to train and to ride but of late he has certainly got his mind on the job which is a credit to Richard and his team.”

After spending most of the year racing in NSW and Queensland, the pathway for Aurvay for the remainder of the year looks to be in Melbourne.

Will Freedman said the likely next race for the seven-year-old will be the listed VRC St. Leger Stakes at Flemington.

“Yeah you would think so,” Freedman said when asked about the likelihood of taking Aurvay to the St. Leger.

“Today was a tough run so that is the likely result.”

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