Mbube will be well-acquainted with the Flemington straight, having received ample practice before contesting the Danehill Stakes.
Trainer Lloyd Kennewell ensured the colt gained familiarity with the Flemington straight when it was opened for outside horses competing in Saturday’s Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m).
The Danehill Stakes is a key preparatory race for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) scheduled for Flemington on October 31, a race widely recognised as a ‘stallion making race’.
After a debut win at Sandown in June, Kennewell had earmarked the Coolmore Stud Stakes as a primary target for Mbube.
Mbube resumed from a spell following his Sandown success to finish second behind Paradoxium in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12.
Following that run, Kennewell returned Mbube to Flemington for an 800-metre trial last Thursday.
Mbube finished last in the trial, but Kennewell’s focus was on providing the colt with additional track experience rather than the finishing order.
“He just poked around, just for fitness and to give him another look,” Kennewell said.
“It was good for the mind, body and soul.”
“He did enough. He ran last but on his sectional data he was still running crazy sectionals.”
“I’m glad he wasn’t upfront. They were going very quick in that trial.”
Kennewell was pleased with Mbube’s effort in his first-up run at Flemington three weeks prior, despite the colt not winning.
Moreover, he has observed a significant improvement in the colt’s fitness.
“He needed it and probably just peaked late, and he bumped into a hard fit Sydney horse, that is obviously a good horse,” Kennewell stated.
“He has come on fitness wise very nicely and taking him out there last week was good and on Tuesday he had a nice little gallop, in hand, and he’s ready to go.”
Billy Egan, who rode Mbube to victory on debut, will partner the colt again on Saturday, after Mark Zahra rode him in the Poseidon Stakes.
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