Racing: Query over distance for Sphenophyta

MELBOURNE - The jury is out until autumn on whether New Zealand galloper Sphenophyta can win a major race over 2400m.

The talented gelding was fifth in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday, peaking on his run over the last 200m, as Tawqeet charged late to catch Aqua D'Amore and complete the Metropolitan Handicap-Caulfield Cup double.

In Queensland in the winter, Sphenophyta was pipped late in the Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast over 2400m by Empyreal.

Victorian trainer Lee Freedman, who confirmed Sphenophyta would spell until the autumn, said punters should not assume Sphenophyta could not stay 2400m in top company on the basis of this run.

But his jockey Danny Nikolic was not so sure.

Freedman said: "I think he [Spheno-phyta] did a great job. You could have put a million dollars on him at the turn. We thought he was the winner coming to the corner, but probably the long winter and having to run in the Turnbull Stakes took a bit out him.

"I would not say he couldn't run 2400m on that race. You don't run fifth in a good Caulfield Cup field like that ... and not get the 2400m distance.

"As I said to the owners this morning, whatever happens today, it's all still ahead of him."

Nikolic cast a doubt over the distance factor.

"It was a very good run. He didn't kick as strongly as I thought he might on the turn and struggled at the mile and a half [2400m]."

Nikolic, however, also said that the horse's previous exertions this campaign might have taken their toll.

Another factor might have been that Sphenophyta raced just behind stablemate Our Smoking Joe on a hard-run first lap.

The horse's breeder and part-owner, Mark Goodwin from Levin, said the Turnbull Stakes run might have taken some of the "punch" out of Sphenophyta.

"He normally has a better turn of foot than that," Goodwin said. "But it's been a great day and a huge buzz to be here."

Freedman immediately ruled out any thoughts of a run in the Melbourne Cup for Sphenophyta and said the horse would return for autumn racing.

An obvious autumn target would be the group one Australian Cup at Flemington, Melbourne, in March, while The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill, Sydney, might provide the definitive answer to the distance query before next spring's plans are finalised.

Despite the hiccup on Saturday, Sphenophyta has been one of the stars of the spring, with his group one Turnbull Stakes win a highlight.

He was a maiden at the start of the year and has now won just under A$700,000 ($804,000) in stakemoney, with A$90,000 the reward for his fifth here.

Railings and Headturner, part-owned by New Zealanders Gerard Peterson and Owen Glenn, finished 10th and 14th.

Railings looked to have his chance but couldn't quicken when the pace did.

Railings' jockey Greg Childs said: "It was a fair run. He will press on for the Melbourne Cup. He will run two miles [3200m] - the distance of the Melbourne Cup."

Headturner's rider Darren Beadman said his mount travelled well but was probably a big track horse, indicating he would be better suited by the Melbourne Cup venue of Flemington.

The cup focus this week will switch to Victoria for the Geelong Cup (2400m) on Wednesday.

Recent arrivals from New Zealand - Pentane, Kerry O'Reilly and Envoy - are expected to run in one of the final Melbourne Cup lead-ups.

- NZPA