By John Jenkins, racing reporter Photo/Duncan Bown
By John Jenkins, racing reporter Photo/Duncan Bown
Hawke's Bay-bred Sacred Elixir has come through his impressive victory in last Saturday's Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in fine style and is now right on target for the $1million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) tomorrow week.
The Pour Moi gelding, bred by well-known Hawke's Bay racing identity Graham de Gruchy, wasrecording his fourth win from just seven starts.
Sacred Elixir's Cambridge trainer, Tony Pike, said he was pleasantly surprised by the gelding's fresh up win over 1400m, in what was his first race since taking out the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane on June 11.
"I thought they just might have been a bit sharp for him around a tight Caulfield circuit first up, so to get the win was probably a little bit of a surprise," trainer Tony Pike said. "He's pulled up super. He went for a very light trot and canter on Monday morning at Flemington so it's all systems go for the Guineas.
"We didn't have to ride him quite as far back last Saturday because he drew a good gate for the first time in a long while.
"It was good to see him travel a bit closer to the speed and do it comfortably and he's a horse with a very good turn of foot and a strong finish, so it's a good combination to have."
Damian Lane will retain the ride on Sacred Elixir in the Caulfield Guineas, a race in which he is presently rated third favourite behind the Sydney-trained colts Impending and Divine Prospect, who were first and second in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Sacred Elixir is a 3-year-old by Pour Moi out of the Stravinsky mare Baltika, who only had three race starts for a win and a second. She is out of the Zabeel mare Zambuca, who is a daughter of the champion racemare Horlicks.
Graham de Gruchy sold Sacred Elixir at the premier session at last year's Karaka yearling sales, with the horse fetching $170,000. He was purchased by Bruce Sherwin, on behalf of Raffles Racing.
