Co-trainer Ben Hayes is confident that Almoonqith will prove very tough to beat when he lines up for the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
Almoonqith returned to peak form when he savaged the line for fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15th, and produced a particularly gallant effort when he ran on for sixth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last Tuesday.
Hayes told Racing Ahead that the Dynaformer entire has hit peak fitness since the race that stops a nation and believes that he will lay a typically-great account for himself in the Zipping Classic 2016.
“Almoonqith, his run was excellent in the Cup,” Hayes said.
“I know it’s a hard race, but he’s really fit now and ready to put in a really good run.
“He won this time last year, he’s sound, and we’re really happy with him.
“I think he’ll definitely put in a really good race.”
Almoonqith has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far and carries a commendable record of six wins and four minors, through a total of thirty-two competitive appearances.
Beginning his career in France before passing through the stables of Mike De Kock in Dubai before arriving in Australia prior to the 2015 Spring Carnival, Almoonqith immediately stamped himself as one to watch; winning both the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) most notably in his first campaign.
Running well through four autumn starts this year, highlighted by a credible fifth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), the stallion out of Bohemian Lady resumed this time for eighth in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) before a luckless run in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
Having placed eighth in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) in his only other start prior to the Caulfield Cup, Almoonqith is expected to be included amongst a particularly classy list of Zipping Classic nominations by midday today (Monday, November 7th).
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