News

Mark Kavanagh keeping the lid on Who hype

17th Aug 2009

Herald Sun - Adam Hamilton - 17 August, 2009

TRAINER Mark Kavanagh is cautiously excited about Whobegotyou's spring prospects.

Kavanagh described the four-year-old's close second to New South Wales raider Predatory Pricer in Saturday's 1400m Liston Stakes at Caulfield (pictured) as "very pleasing", but quickly added it was too early to start rating Whobegotyou one of the spring elite.

"Talk to me again after the Craiglee (1600m Makybe Diva Stakes, Flemington, September 5) and we can start talking about who's in the A-team," Kavanagh said.

"The early signs are good.

"He ran really well, probably just peaked on his run about 50m from home."

Kavanagh confirmed Whobegotyou's next run would be in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday week. It means a likely rematch with Predatory Pricer.

Emerging star Mic Mac is also heading for the Memsie. Trainer Greg Eurell confirmed Danny Nikolic would be the new rider for Mic Mac.

Kavanagh will have to find a replacement rider for Whobegotyou after Damien Oliver was suspended for 15 meetings on Saturday.

"Haven't thought about that one yet. I'll sit down with the owner this week and we'll decide," he said.

Kavanagh said Raffaello's impressive first-up win over 1200m at Caulfield on Saturday posed more questions than it answered.

"He's been a real find for the stable and he's probably got a really good handicap race in him somewhere, but whether it's at 1600m or he'll need further is the question," the trainer said.

Kavanagh is yet to produce two of his key spring contenders, last year's Cox Plate winner Maldivian and exciting four-year-old Shocking.

"I've got a very exciting team and it's a privilege to have them going into a Melbourne spring carnival," he said.

"Shocking has probably come back a better horse and he'll resume in a handicap on Saturday week. Maldivian is a couple of weeks away. I haven't picked out a race for him, but he's on target for where I want him right now."

Australian Cup winner Pompeii Ruler's spring preparation has hit a snag with rain causing the cancellation of Cranbourne trials today.

Officials hope to reschedule the trials for later in the week.

Trainer Mick Price is taking a conservative approach with Pompeii Ruler this campaign.

He said the class performer was a seven-year-old, a "little jointy" and had to prove he could again compete at elite company.

Pompeii Ruler, winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the Sydney autumn carnival, hasn't started since his fourth behind Gloria De Campeao in the Singapore Cup.

Price said Pompeii Ruler, placed in the 2006 Cox Plate, was likely to resume in the Makybe Diva Stakes.