Horse Racing

Gliding could go to the Crown Oaks after winning the Listed Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield

Bart Cummings is back just in time to maybe win his eighth Caulfield Cup with Precedence later this afternoon, the maestro trainer enjoying an early Caulfield Cup Day win in the third with his improving filly Gliding who could now run in the Crown Oaks 2011.

Jockey Darren Beadman donned the famous Green and Gold colours for Cummings for the first time in a while, the trainer-hoop duo coming together for a good victory in the $100,000 Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) with Flying Spur three-year-old Gliding.

Without a win to her name until today, Gliding broke her maiden status in black-type company having gotten the gun run of the race.

Baptism kicked up early after jumping to take the lead after the field settled into stride, Beadman finding a nice position for the eventual winner in fourth.

Race favourite was Graeme Rogerson’s Kiwi filly Dowager Queen, who had a very unlucky run getting caught in traffic behind slow horses and unable to get through until the very end.

Around the turn for home Mo Vo moved up to snare the lead, early leader Baptism quickly beaten.

Gliding then got into the clear and hit the front with 200 metres left after a getting a beautiful trail right behind the speed, the horse that had the best run of the race beating home the favourite Dowager Queen, who made up lots of ground late, on the line.

In a photo for the final placing, Mick Kent’s roughie Gioe finished off the Ethereal Stakes Trifecta with the fellow Kent-trained Vittoria in fourth.

Cranbourne horseman Kent will be hoping for a similar finish in the day’s feature, the 2011 Caulfield Cup, where he saddles up three long-shots in #4 Unusual Suspect ($81 Luxbet), #12 Absolutely ($19 Luxbet) and #15 Domesky ($151 Luxbet).

A good staying type, Gliding got up to her right distance today and looks a strong chance now heading towards the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday November 3 during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“She could go onto the (Crown) Oaks now hopefully, the Wakeful then the Oaks,” Cummings said after the race.

“She finished off very well….the pedigree indicates it could (get to the Crown Oaks distance).”

Gliding will head towards the Crown Oaks via the traditional path, racing in the $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day where she will come up against the undefeated Thousand Guineas winner Atlantic Jewel.

Darren Beadman was also confident that Gliding would get the Crown Oaks distance, and was pleased with her run today.

“She put herself into the race and travelled pretty kindly through the race,” he said.

“It was a pretty soft win really.

“She’ll run a mile and a half for sure.”

Punters will be jumping on the Caulfield Cup odds on #1 Mighty High, John Moore’s Hong Kong galloper’s current $9 price at Luxbet set to firm with Darren Beadman to ride.

Place your Caulfield Cup bets now at Luxbet and get Best Tote Exotics + 5% bonus at Australia’s favourite bookie!

2011 Ethereal Stakes Finishing Order & Results