BMW Caulfield Cup Champ Returns

8 May 2008

The reigning BMW Caulfield Cup winner, Master O�Reilly, will make his long awaited return to the race track this Saturday in Adelaide and without his trainer by his side.

Danny O’Brien, despite having multiple runners at Morphettville, has chosen to be Caulfield on Saturday where he will saddle up six runners, including two in the feature $100,500 Bayside Chrysler Jeep & Dodge Blue Sapphire Stakes, which has been elevated to Listed status for 2008.

Master O’Reilly will travel to Adelaide tonight to have his one and only run this campaign. Following Saturday’s Group 3 Gerard Corporation Stakes over 1600 metres, Master O’Reilly will be spelled again in preparation for another tilt at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 2008.

The stable’s choice to travel interstate for the first up run was based mainly on the weight that Master O’Reilly would carry. “He gets in with a good weight”, assistant trainer Gino Mata said. “With the set weights and penalties conditions, it is a much more luxurious weight for him to carry first up over a mile because it is never easy first up over a mile”, Mata added. “He’s coming from a Melbourne Cup preparation last time so he still has some residual fitness on board and at this time of year, on that track and in those conditions should suit him to run well”, Mato concluded.

Master O’Reilly has only had two career runs over 1600 metres and has never been victorious at the distance.

The stable is optimistic that he will be able to return in time to have a first up run in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in September followed by a run in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes over 1800 metres on September 20 at Caulfield. The Turnbull Stakes at Flemington may then be his final run before attempting to defend his title on BMW Caulfield Cup Day on October 18.

At Caulfield on Saturday, O’Brien’s two acceptors for the Bayside Chrysler Jeep & Dodge Blue Sapphire Stakes are Lucky Thunder and Lilian Evelyn. Lucky Thunder is making his race debut, whilst stable mate Lilian Evelyn has had three starts for one metropolitan win at Moonee Valley.

With a purse of $100,500 on offer, this race for 2 year olds is being run for the fourth year, having been introduced at Sandown in 2005 before being switched to form part of Caulfield’s annual programme in 2006.

Racecourses manager, Jason Kerr, reported this morning that the track is rated a Dead 4 with the rail in the 5 metre position. Caulfield has received 19.4 mm of rain this week and he has applied no irrigation.

The first of eight races is due at 12.00pm with the last scheduled for 4.25pm.

Note:
Past Winners of the Blue Sapphire Stakes (previously Classic)

*2005 – READYFORCATHERINE (Trained by Lee Freedman & ridden by Jamie Mott)
2006 – GREEN BIRDIE (Brian Jenkins & Rhys McLeod)
2007 – EMJAY HUSSEY (Ian Hutchins & Vlad Duric)

* race was run at Sandown