Pat Carey’s Group 1 winning galloper Cedarberg is preparing to resume work after a spell ahead of a Spring Cups Campaign.
Four-year-old Helenus gelding Cedarberg hit the big time in the autumn when they defeated a crack field of stayers to win the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day as a $25 roughie.
The BMW winner Cedarberg is preparing to resume for the spring
Prior to their success in The BMW, Cedarberg had won three times previously but not in a black-type.
During the spring of last year, Cedarberg was targeting a start in the iconic Melbourne Cup at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
They kicked off their Cups crusade in fine style, winning a 2400m handicap at Sandown in September before running a gallant second to Lloyd William’s emerging runner Linton in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).
Carey gave Cedarberg the chance to qualify for a start in the Melbourne Cup by running him in the Group 3 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day, but they could only manage to finish a well beaten ninth behind eventual Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday.
At their most recent run, Cedarberg backed up from his The BMW win with a start in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 23.
After striking interference at the start, Cedarberg eventually finished sixth just over five lengths back from Chris Waller’s star import My Kingdom Of Fife before being sent to the paddock for a rest.
Cedarberg is now close to returning to Carey’s stables, where the Mornington-based trainer hopes to be able to get them fit and ready for a strong spring return.
“You have to have a spring horse in by now because they have to be up and racing in August,” Carey said.
Meanwhile, Carey is also looking forward to seeing how his Carnegie mare Influential Miss performs this season.
Last year Influential Miss gave Carey a nice victory on Melbourne Cup Day in the $100,00 Schivaello Plate (1700m) and he has tentatively scheduled this Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill as her return.
“I’m not sure yet (if she’ll start at Sydney),” Carey said.
“I put in a nomination because sometimes up in Sydney you get these small fields in staying races.
“It’s a Listed race and she’s a small mare so getting some black-type would really help her as a broodmare.”
After winning on Melbourne Cup Day, Influential Miss has failed to finish better than third in any of her six most recent starts.
She did, however, show Carey promise last start with fifth in a 2000m race at Flemington on May 21.
“The way she got to the line made me think she is going to get further,” Carey said.
“Whether 2400m (metres) is too far, I’m not too sure.”
Influential Miss’s Melbourne Cup Day victory came on a Slow track, and as her sire Carnegie was a known mudlark, running at Rosehill this Saturday could be the key to getting her back in form with rain predicted in Sydney throughout the week.
“Being by Carnegie, she loves the wet,” Carey said.
