Trainer Lloyd Kennewell of Cranbourne is of the opinion that the Group 1 sprint event for three-year-olds at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week is shaping up to be the highlight race of the spring season.
Kennewell has two promising colts, Organised Crime and Mbube, being prepared for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on October 31.
Organised Crime will compete in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, which will serve as his final race before the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“This is the race that we have been aimed up at,” Kennewell stated. “If you want to be a Coolmore horse, you need to be running very good on Saturday.”
He continued, “It’s still a few weeks away (the Coolmore), but it’s shaping as the best race of the spring as everyone is waiting for it. It’s a stallion making race and it might not be a colt that wins it as the fillies look good too.”
Organised Crime demonstrated his ability with a debut victory at Sale as a two-year-old and later secured second place in the Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.
In his most recent outing, Organised Crime finished fifth in the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12.
A trial at Caulfield Heath on October 1 was conducted to further prepare Organised Crime.
“Early in the prep, it was all a learning curve, and he has taken it all on,” Kennewell remarked. “His last trial was terrific. It was slowly run and he relaxed good, breathed well, did it well, and I could not speak highly enough of the horse.”
Kennewell added, “We always thought he had it, so that’s the way he was aimed up and now we’re at the pointy end and if he runs well on Saturday, he steps into one of the hottest Coolmore’s for more than 10 years. It will be good to have two quality colts in the Coolmore.”
Kennewell explained that a colt like Organised Crime benefits from consistent activity, and the timing of three-year-old races, spanning from early August to late October/early November, requires careful management.
“He’s 540 kilos. He loves the competition,” Kennewell said. “These three-year-old races are spread out so you have to keep them ticking over and colts like to be kept busy, not being lazy, so he’s been at it all the way through.”
“He looks super and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”
Mbube is scheduled for a straight-track trial at Flemington, a decision by Kennewell to ready him for the Coolmore, following his third-place finish in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 3.
Check out the latest racing odds for the Blue Sapphire Stakes at your preferred Australian betting sites.