PB Lawrence first-up for Elephant

Media Release - Wednesday August 10

Elephant will be out to replicate his deeds from last year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival when he kicks off his campaign in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The son of Shocking won two of his five starts last spring, including the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), and placed in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m).

Elephant on track for another big spring - image Racing Photos

Elephant on track for another big spring - image Racing Photos

His autumn preparation was curtailed after just one start, when a knee chip ruled him out of a tilt at the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m).

He has subsequently returned in good order and pleased in his sole jumpout ahead of his raceday resumption this weekend.

“We were really happy with his trial first-up here at Cranbourne. Damian Lane reported that he feels as good as last time,” said Emma-Lee Browne, who trains the six-year-old in partnership with her husband David.


“We had thought of giving him two jumpouts, but the race came up at a good time for him, so we thought we might as well go to the races.

Advertisement

“We are pretty happy going into Saturday. He is not as hard-fit as he was this time last year, because he started the same weekend. He is probably a little bit more behind the eight-ball, but it is a good place to start with him.

“At this stage we are very happy with him, but with that sort of thing (knee chips), he is a race-by-race proposition.”

Elephant will likely get a chance to try and go one better than his run in last year’s Feehan Stakes in his following start, with the Brownes ultimately hoping to gain a start in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) in October.

“We would love to get to the Cox Plate, we were pretty close to qualifying last year,” Browne said.

“He may well take the same path as he did last year, with the Feehan an option, but we will just get through Saturday and see where we are at fitness-wise and go from there.”

Another horse the couple campaigned in Melbourne last year was Redwood gelding Border Leicester, who will head towards the Jericho Cup (4600m).

“He is going to be targeted towards the Jericho again. He had a little break after he won at Bendigo and he struggled to get around the tight Cranbourne track the other day, but it was a nice way to kick him off as we head towards the Jericho with him,” Browne said.

“He has already got a few points on the board, so it looks like he will make the field. We will be following a similar path to last year, trying to pick up some prizemoney along the way.”

The Brownes are also excited about a couple of Kiwi-bred three-year-olds, including Innerbloom, who will make her debut at Geelong on Friday, plus Ohakune Carrot, who impressed in a recent Cranbourne jumpout.

“We have got a couple of three-year-olds we are looking forward to and one is starting on Friday, Innerbloom, she is an Almanzor filly and looks quite nice,” Browne said.

Browne and her family have been enjoying their time in Melbourne since moving there from Cambridge earlier this year, and she said they are starting to feel the excitement building for spring racing.

“We are loving it,” she said. “It is a pretty exciting time to be in Melbourne leading into the spring. We had trials yesterday and you can definitely feel that spring is getting closer.

“It is a cool place to be because there is a massive buzz everywhere about getting ready for the spring.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Goals for Shamexpress Filly
Stakes assignments await promising filly Miss Madridista following her impressive 5-1/4 length victory in the Norwegian Park 1200 at Te Rapa on Friday.
The Canonbury Stakes - Often a Guide to Stardom
Saturday’s Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill has been used in recent years as the starting point for two of Chris Waller’s superstars (neither of them winning by the way) and the race is often one of the autumn’s strongest leads so let’s have a closer look.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
The big guns were in action at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning with the likes of Via Sistina (IRE), Ceolwulf and Fangirl stepping out as well as glamour three year-olds Switzerland, Broadsiding, Private Life and Lady Shenandoah, but they have been well exposed through social media so we’ll stick to the juveniles and they also held plenty of autumn promise.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday January 29
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday January 31
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Roca Filly Dramatic Miss Strikes Mega Maiden Bonus at Waverley
The inaugural NZB Mega Maiden Series had its fifth winner when Dramatic Miss (NZ) (El Roca) produced an impressive performance in Wednesday’s $25,000 NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) at Wanganui.
Star Debut 2YO Winner for Spirit of Boom
Queensland favourite Spirit of Boom is having a hot run with this juveniles this season and posted his eighth winner from 15 starters when the Chris Waller trained filly Karinska saluted at Canterbury on Friday night.
Exception to the Rule – Family Connections
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that if a mare is going to produce a stakes-winner, she’s going to do it within the first four foals she delivers, but there are always exceptions to every rule and we saw a high profile one last Saturday.
NZ Derby Contenders in Action Saturday
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy’s hopes for the upcoming Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), Willydoit and Interplanetary, will continue their preparations for the $1.25 million feature in respective events at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Flying Artie's My Wish Leads An Aus Trifecta in HK Classic Mile
Mark Newnham continued his excellent season and My Wish continued his remarkable rise when the pint-sized Flying Artie four year-old won the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Friday in and Australian bred trifecta.