3 minute read
Fiorente keeps going from strength to strength this time taking out the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington last Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained six-year-old resumed ideally when claiming the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and was largely expected to go on with the job at Flemington in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
Fresh off winning the Australian Guineas seven days ago, Shamus Award was largely considered the main danger however was no match for the impressive son of Monsun.
Fiorente settled back in the field as Shamus Award led them around at a moderate tempo.
Jockey Damien Oliver gradually allowed Fiorente to edge closer from the 600m and down the Flemington straight the pair proved unstoppable, hitting the lead 100m from home before posting a half length lead.
Green Moon and Foreteller filled the minor placings while Shamus Award weakened over the final furlong to finish sixth.
Fiorente’s superb display was assessed at 127, a new peak Timeform rating for the UK import who improved on his Melbourne Cup winning figure by two pounds.
The performance came in noticeably above the prior five year winning average of the Australian Cup which during that period has been taken out by the likes of Zipping in 2010 and Shocking in 2011.
Like Shocking, Fiorente claimed the Australian Cup after winning the Melbourne Cup although Shocking did need an extra season to achieve it.
In winning last Saturday’s Australian Cup, Fiorente became the 12th horse to complete the Peter Young Stakes – Australian Cup double and the first since Pompeii Ruler in 2007.
Fiorente will now head to Sydney where his next main goal will be the lucrative $4million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 19.
Either the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) or The BMW (2400m) will be his lead up run into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Interestingly, three of the past five Ranvet Stakes winners have come out of the Australian Cup starting with Theseo in 2009.
Manighar claimed the Australian Cup/Ranvet Stakes double in 2012 while 2013 Ranvet Stakes winner Foreteller ran seventh in the 2013 Australian Cup claimed by Super Cool.
A mouth watering clash with It’s A Dundeel beckons Fiorente in the Queen Elizabeth (2000m) with the title of Australia’s best middle distance weight-for-age galloper up for grabs.
Markets currently have Fiorente as favourite for the contest with It’s A Dundeel a close second elect after resuming last Saturday in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm.
Prior to last Saturday, the pair possessed the same master Timeform figure of 125 however Fiorente has edged ahead following his Australian Cup heroics.
Shamus Award while safely held in the Australian Cup could still make his way into the final field of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
The Snitzel colt held the lead in the Australian Cup until the final 100m when collared by his older, more seasoned counterparts.
Trainer Danny O’Brien defended the performance and still intends on heading to Sydney with Shamus Award for the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 29.