Racing: Conlan maps out campaign

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Trainer Jim Conlan says Rekindled Interest is coming along well for his spring campaign, which will begin in Saturday's group three Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

The winner of the group two AAMI Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley has not raced since finishing fifth to Lion Tamer on a wet track in the Victoria Derby at Flemington last spring.

"He's coming along well and he's going to kick off at the weekend," Conlan said yesterday.

"I took him to Sale on Sunday and gave him a gallop and he worked quite nicely. He hadn't had a trial so far this prep so he's going to go into the race off a fairly long break.

"But he's good, everything is right with him at the moment and he's really working nicely.

"I would expect him to need this run but he's heading in the right direction for the spring."

Conlan said the Redoute's Choice 4-year-old would be nominated for the Cox Plate (2040m) and the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

However, he will not be nominated for the Melbourne Cup.

"I won't enter him for the Melbourne Cup. On his pedigree and the type of horse he is I don't think he could possibly run the two miles," Conlan said.

"The Cox Plate is a race I'm looking at and because of the light weight he would get in with, maybe the Toorak Handicap would be a good race for him, too.

"The 2400m of the Caulfield Cup is probably stretching his pedigree a bit.

"The Derby was one of those days where the form just doesn't have any relevance as it was that wet and the horse [Lion Tamer] we beat [by 2 lengths] in the AAMI Vase, beat him by more than 12 lengths."

Conlan said Dwayne Dunn would ride Rekindled Interest in Saturday's race, which had attracted 24 entries yesterday.

Owner Lloyd Williams has nominated eight imported horses, including highly rated stayers Alandi, Midas Touch and At First Sight.

Alandi is a dual group one winner of the 2009 Irish St Leger and Prix Du Cadran and returns after being sent back to his original trainer, John Oxx.

Midas Touch was runner-up in the 2010 Irish Derby and English St Leger, while At First Sight was runner-up in the 2010 English Derby.

- AAP