Preferment beats stablemate Royal Descent in the Turnbull Stakes. Photo / Getty Images
Preferment beats stablemate Royal Descent in the Turnbull Stakes. Photo / Getty Images
Turnbull Stakes winner looks best hope of repelling northern raiders in Melbourne Cup
Preferment has emerged as the most serious threat to the Northern Hemisphere attack on the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with his victory in the Turnbull Stakes.
Last year's Chris Waller-trained Victoria Derby winner is now the second favourite behind Japanese horse Fame Game for both Cups after his group one win at Flemington yesterday.
Waller could be swayed from his original plans with the Cox Plate and not the Caulfield Cup a possible Melbourne Cup lead-up after his 2000 metre win.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Preferment ($11) scored by a short-head from his stablemate Royal Descent ($6) with 2014 VRC Oaks winner Set Square ($19) three-quarters of a length away third.
"If he had run second to Royal Descent the Caulfield Cup is what we would be doing," Waller said.
"We deserve the right to be arrogant enough to say we could go to the Cox Plate, but the Caulfield Cup is more realistic.
"He's only had the one run over 2500m so it would be best going into the Melbourne Cup rock hard fit, not hoping he's going to stay. It's a question mark every 3200m race and that extra distance does test them."
"I know the Derby doesn't always throw up a good record going towards Melbourne Cups, but this horse is a little bit different as he's been so lightly-raced," Waller said.
Royal Descent's second was the mare's seventh minor place in a group one event since she won the 2013 Australian Oaks.
Bowman, who combined with the Waller-trained Winx to win Saturday's Epsom Handicap at Randwick, said he thought Preferment was suited by the bigger Flemington track more than he would be at Caulfield or Moonee Valley.
"My gut feeling is he'll be better suited on a galloping track. He likes Flemington and he's a more mature unit than he was last year."
Luke Currie, rider of third-placed Set Square, said last season's VRC Oaks winner was unlucky after being held up for a run at a vital stage.
Ben Melham, who rode fourth-placed Dandino, said the effort was pleasing. "He just needs to draw a barrier," he said.
Chautauqua impressed by winning the Gilgai Sprint. Photo / Getty Images
Earlier, Chautauqua produced his champion qualities with a fighting victory to remain unbeaten in his spring campaign.
The Hawkes Racing-trained sprinter was sent out the odds-on favourite in yesterday's Gilgai Sprint (1200m). But Dwayne Dunn found himself boxed in on the $1.30 chance before negotiating a passage between horses and Chautauqua did the rest, winning by a length from Delectation ($31) with Knoydart ($19) a half-neck away third.
Wellington Cup winner Maygrove turned in an excellent Melbourne trial when fourth in the Bart Cummings.
In his third Australian start this preparation, Maygrove was well positioned throughout, but had to go wide on the home bend to get into the clear. He loomed at the 300m, but then appeared to give the impression he may have needed just the one more run.
Let's Make a Deal and Dwayne Dunn took the race with a strong finish from a brave topweight Our Ivanhowe (60kg) and Hawkspur sticking on well for third.
