NEWS
Cima de Triomphe leads invaders in Caulfield Cup
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 7:08 PM
by Tim Nichols
Teruya Yoshida’s globetrotter Cima de Triomphe will compete in his fifth country on Saturday and will try to take down his biggest prize in the $2,342,274 BMW Caulfield Cup (Aus-G1) at Caulfield.
Trained by Luca Cumani, the four-year-old Galileo (Ire) colt enters off a fourth-place finish in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on August 8 at Arlington Park. The Italian highweight completed his final preparations for the race following a canter at Sandown on Thursday.
“He’s feeling full of himself at the moment which is always a good sign at this stage,” Sara Cumani, who rode Cima de Triomphe at Sandown, told www.racingandsports.com.au.
Cima de Triomphe is seeking his second victory at the highest level. He captured the 2008 Derby Italiano (Ity-G1) (Italian Derby) but has since fallen short in six subsequent starts in Grade/Group 1 company.
Another European invader, Godolphin’s Kirklees, will try to give Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum his second consecutive victory in the Caulfield Cup after winning with All the Good in 2008.
Kirklees will be shooting for his first Group 1 victory.
“Godolphin didn’t have All The Good for that many runs before he came to Australia, while this horse [Kirklees] probably has a touch better form,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy told www.racingandsports.com.au.
“He’s got to carry 56 kilograms [123 pounds] but he drops a lot in weight compared to his wins in the U.K. so that’s always a positive.”
Kirklees captured the Totesport.com September Stakes (Eng-G3) at about the Caulfield Cup distance at Kempton Park on September 5 in his most recent start. Kirklees carries a three-race winning streak into the Caulfield Cup, with victories in the Sky Bet York Stakes (Eng-G2) on July 25 and a listed stakes on July 3 at Sandown.
Leading the local side is Group 1 winner Roman Emperor. Trained by Bart Cummings, the Montjeu (Ire) colt captured the David Jones AJC Australian Derby (Aus-G1) at the Caulfield Cup distance on April 11 at Randwick. Caulfield Cup entrants Harris Tweed and Predatory Pricer finished second and third, respectively.
Multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil will try to build upon her recent success. The No Excuse Needed (GB) filly won the Windsor Park Stoney Bridge Plate (NZ-G1) prior to finishing fourth by one length in the Kelt Capital Stakes (NZ-G1) in her most recent start on October 3.
The race also attracted Group 1 winners Viewed, Fiumicino, Master O’Reilly, Sarrera, Allez Wonder, and Newport
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
