Hayes has Cup hopes for import Super Titus
Super Titus will be given his chance to make the spring’s biggest races after winning at Caulfield.
With his first Australian win now on the board, the next job for promising import Super Titus will be to try to qualify for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Having his third Australian start and second of his current preparation, in Saturday’s Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield, Super Titus defied a wide run throughout to win the 1700m Listed race by three quarters of a length.
Co-trainer David Hayes plans to run the lightly raced gelding in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in three weeks, with the winner of that race to secure a Caulfield Cup spot.
The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 5 is also in Hayes’ thinking for Super Titus to try to clinch a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption as well.
“He raced without cover the whole race and travelled with class into it,” Hayes said.
“Second-up he still had enough stamina to hold on and win a good race.
“I was scared today he was going to get the bad run he got, but he was still too good for them so it is really exciting.
“He’s got to try to qualify for the Cups. The exciting thing about that win is it should probably get his rating up enough to get into the Naturalism.
“I think he will just get better as the races get longer.”
Super Titus ($6) defeated fellow import Captain Cook ($7.50) with Etymology ($12) another half length away third.
Steel Prince, who is already assured a Melbourne Cup spot courtesy of his win in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in May, kicked off his Cup build-up in the Heatherlie and finished well for fourth.