Newcomer A Chance For Kavanagh

The Age

Wednesday December 24, 2008

ANDREW EDDY

THE stable's big names won't be back in Mark Kavanagh's Flemington stable until after Christmas, but the trainer could still pick up a city winner at Caulfield on Friday with a new horse in his stable, Sazonar.

"He's only had the one run for me (second at Sandown) and I still don't know a lot about him," Kavanagh said yesterday. "He gives me the impression he will train on but the horse that beat him (Tictacs) was well beaten at his next start so I'm a little worried about the form."

Kavanagh, the only trainer with three horses in the top 20 highest stakes earners for the season, said Caulfield Guineas winner Whobegotyou (fourth highest with $1,138,000), Cox Plate winner Maldivian (second with $1,945,000) and Sea Battle (18th with $377,300) were in pre-training and would return to Flemington next week.

Whobegotyou will be aimed primarily at the Cadbury Guineas while Maldivian will be set for the Australian Cup. Kavanagh said the group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield might be the early autumn aim for Sea Battle.

Believe 'N' Succeed, who missed the spring carnival because of a growth on her throat, has returned to the stable and Kavanagh said he was happy with her progress to date. Thousand Guineas runner-up Cats Whisker is overcoming an injury and will return to training later in the autumn.

A DREAM END TO 2008

SOUTH Australian apprentice Scott Bailey can end 2008 with a prized Caulfield win under his belt as he takes the ride on Falvelon's Dream for his master, Stuart Gower, in the Frank O'Brien Handicap on Friday.

Bailey, 20, has had a profitable past six months after gaining more opportunities since transferring to Gower's Morphettville stable. He has had his indentures extended until the end of the season.

Bailey, runner-up behind Amy Herrmann for dux of the Thoroughbred Racing SA Apprentice Academy award this month, has won three races this year on Falvelon's Dream but the mare needs to improve on her record at Caulfield, where she has had three unplaced runs.

© 2008 The Age

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