Carnival aspirations for Metropolitan favourite Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap hopeful Althoff are set to be tested when top jockey Zac Lloyd partners the pair in significant lead-up assignments at Newcastle.
Aethelwulf will face the dual challenge of extending beyond 2000m for the first time and rising to stakes company when he contests Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), aiming for his fourth successive victory. Concurrently, Althoff aims to cement his Epsom credentials in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m).
Lloyd, who holds a perfect record on both horses, highlighted the importance of the Matt Smith-trained Aethelwulf continuing his winning sequence to justify his top market position for the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick next month.
“He needs to win if he wants to progress to a Metrop,” Lloyd stated.
“He’s not well weighted. The top horse has compressed the weights so some nice horses are giving him less kilos than what they should be, so that’s going to be tricky for him.
“But it will be good to see where he’s at. I have a lot of belief in him and so does Matt. Hopefully he can win and win comfortably.
“He’s one of the more exciting horses I’ve sat on just in how he’s progressed every run.”
Among Aethelwulf’s opposition will be topweight and Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard, who is looking to give local trainer Kris Lees his second Newcastle Cup after Mugatoo’s triumph six years ago.
Althoff also arrives at his assignment in outstanding form, boasting impressive wins at his past two starts.
Lloyd rated the gelding’s most recent victory at Rosehill as especially convincing and, similar to Aethelwulf, noted that Althoff’s performance on Friday would be crucial in determining his next target.
“Barrier one is fantastic for him. He can ‘posi’ up closer than he did the other day,” Lloyd remarked.
“His last win was full of merit because he had to go back on a track that was favouring leaders, and if he wins at Newcastle, he’ll probably take his place in the Epsom with a light weight.
“So two important races on Friday.”
The Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares concludes the day’s feature races, with Lloyd partnering the resuming Polymnia for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
While her best performances have been over middle distances, she possesses a strong sprint first-up and has been placed in three of her five first-up runs.
Check the latest racing betting markets for Friday’s Newcastle meeting.
