Talented gelding Caymans mended his ways to win today's Group Two Sandown Guineas and give himself a chance at the cream of the three-year-old autumn races in Sydney.
Trainer Peter Snowden listed the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as Sydney autumn targets after the son of Secret Savings scored an emphatic 1-3/4 length win over last-start stakeswinning filly Marveen in the 1600m feature.
Lucky Thunder, ridden by Dwayne Dunn, was checked badly when going for a run halfway up the straight and finished 2-1/4 lengths back in third place leaving trainer Danny O'Brien bitterly disappointed.
Dunn said Lucky Thunder would have at best finished second as he wasn't going well enough when he ran out of room.
On Derby Day Caymans almost ran off when he finished fourth in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) to Dr Doute's and second-placed Lucky Thunder.
Corey Brown rode him on one rein for much of the Flemington race but today Caymans gave Kerrin McEvoy a much more manageable ride.
McEvoy said his only concern was when he drew the whip on Caymans to make his run.
"All through his preparation you've seen him do a few things wrong and even today he did a few things wrong," McEvoy said.
"When I gave him a crack with the whip he ducked in and it was lucky no-one was inside him."
Caymans wore a tongue tie in the Guineas but Snowden doubted it made much difference to the horse's performance.
"Things just haven't gone right for him," Snowden said.
"He always had ability. We knew that. It was just matter of him putting everything together and today he did.
"It was totally out of character the way he raced at Flemington. He may have been a bit fresh and raced a bit keen and he sort of locked his jaw.
"Once he straightened up and was back on his right leg he was fine."
Snowden said Caymans was more settled in the Guineas and his first stakes win showed that he could be a chance in the top-level autumn races.
"He has been a frustrating horse but today he relaxed the whole race," he said.
"We were always hoping that a big one was just around the corner and he will fit well into the autumn."
McEvoy said Caymans, who has won twice and been placed another three times in six starts, will only get better.
"He is a big, raw horse with a big frame to fill and is still learning," McEvoy said.
"He quickened up really well when I asked him and won nicely."作者:
S.WEEK 時間: 15/11/2008 10:21 PM
