Chris Waller was admittedly pleased with the first-up run by his star import My Kingdom Of Fife at Warwick Farm on Saturday, the major spring carnival contender coming within a long-neck of winner Trusting in the $175,000 Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
My Kingdom Of Fife resumed with an eye-catching first-up second to Trusting in the Chelmsford Stakes
The John Thompson-trained, Patinack Farm-owned Trusting firmed into $3.70 favouritism in the Saturday betting markets before Warwick Farm Race 6, and after a masterful ride by Singapore jockey Joao Moreira, the four-year-old came good for the punters.
Finishing a brave second was My Kingdom Of Fife ($4.40) while Anthony Cumming’s up-and-coming Strike The Stars ($13) was a further length and a quarter away for third.
While connections were happy with the return-to-form of Trusting, the multiple Group 1 placegetter enjoying their first victory since their Group 2 Warwick Stakes success in August of 2009, it was the My Kingdom Of Fife camp who came away with the most confidence from Saturday’s result.
My Kingdom Of Fife, a winner of their opening three career starts in Australia last season including the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, has been nominated for all the Melbourne spring majors.
Waller is yet to confirm whether he will run the Kingmambo gelding in the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15 or the weight-for-age $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley the following fortnight, but the galloper has firmed in the early betting markets for both at Luxbet.
Next-up for My Kingdom Of Fife will either be the $200,000 Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 17 or a trip to Melbourne for the $350,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on the same day according to Waller.
“I’m not sure whether to go to the Hill Stakes or the Underwood Stakes next,” Waller said.
“I’ll sit down with the owners and decide what we will do but it was great to see how well the horse has come back.
“I don’t want to over race him but I want to aim high.”
My Kingdom Of Fife sits as a $16 chance in the 2011 Caulfield Cup odds that are lead by $9 co-favourites December Draw and Scarlett Lady while for the Cox Plate 2011 Luxbet have them at $26.
They are also thereabouts in the betting for the $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November at a quote of $21.
To get behind My Kingdom Of Fife throughout their spring preparation, make sure you have an account open with Australia’s leading bookmaker Luxbet who have the hottest odds and best betting bonuses.
Join Luxbet today and quote the codeword BONUSBET when making your first deposit to get that deposit matched dollar for dollar up to $400 as a bonus bet!
