Does group glory await ultra-consistent Cannyescent?
LINDSAY Park Racing Manager Rayan Moore believes in-form gelding Cannyescent has what it takes to claim its first group win in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.
The five-year-old returns to the track for the first time since its narrow defeat at the hands of Hey Doc in the Group Three Aurie’s Star at Flemington, where the gelding was desperately unlucky not to register its maiden group crown.
The racing team now return the horse back to Rosehill where it has previously won before, and Moore believes a return to a familiar course and distance on Saturday will be beneficial.
“He’s had a run at Rosehill over the 1300m before and won with Tim Clarke on,” More told HorseBetting.com.au.
“We feel 1300m is a great distance for him. He’s won at 1400m but at the 1300m we feel he’ll be pretty strong at the end and on the run to the line.”
Cannyescent is $5.50 to win the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes via Crownbet.com.au at Rosehill on Saturday.
This will be the first time since May that Cannyescent has run outside of Melbourne, but the horse has shown over its career that it is more than capable winning in both Victoria and NSW.
Moore said that flexibility, alongside a field that may harbour racing ambitions beyond Saturday could play perfectly into the racing team’s hands.
“There’s a few horses that are first-up in that race there in Sydney, and they’ve probably got goals out of this race going over the mile and beyond, where conversely we are one of the in-form horses in that race.
“The big drop in weight too helps. Obviously Foxplay is a group one winner, but getting in with 53kg, he won’t know himself and after carrying higher weights earlier this prep and also that last prep, this is going to be the lowest weight he’s ever going to carry I’d say.
“The owners Kevin Pitstock and his team were pretty keen to have a go at the group two.”
The sternest competition for Cannyescent in Saturday’s group two will come from the Chris Waller pair Foxplay and the first-up Egg Tart.
Foxplay was magnificent first-up on August 19, finishing second to Winx in a race the mare could have easily won had the superstar stablemate not been in the field. Saturday’s run for the $3.20 favourite at Crownbet.com.au Egg Tart will be its first since taking out the Group One Queensland Oaks back in June.
While a win in the Theo Marks Stakes would hand Egg Tart a seventh-straight victory, its first-up form has been patchy given it has just the solitary win and an unplaced effort from two attempts.
Egg Tart’s sights may be set on getting cherry-ripe for the Caulfield Cup later in the year, and Moore believes the Lindsay Park team can capitalise on this come race day.
“Egg Tart probably has bigger goals further in the prep,” the racing manager explained.
Moore anticipates the opposition will come more from the stablemate on Saturday.
“We’re not going to speculate on how wound up and ready to go Chris Waller’s runners are, but Foxplay obviously pushed Winx the other day and has the form on the board.”
Much like Foxplay, Cannyescent’s last start second in the Group Three Aurie’s Star has given Moore confidence that a strong race is in store for the five-year-old on Saturday.
Have to agree Cannyescent the value for mine makes his own luck. Unlucky in The Auries . Gets outside rail prob beats Hey Doc
— Greg C (@GeeCeeQld) September 4, 2017
“It’s a very good race … we just felt at the 1300m with no weight on his back and I think the form coming out of the Aurie Star has really held up with Grande Rosso coming out and winning and Hey Doc also running fourth at group one level.
“He pushed both those horses last start and I’m sure he’ll acquit himself well.”