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| Dane Squance |
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With the last two winners of the Listed Heritage Stakes, Home Affairs (below) and Wild Ruler both going on to win at Group 1 level, and both interestingly contesting last year's $15m Everest, the form from this Saturday's running of the race should be noted from a future aspect.
With the Coolmore and partners-raced Best Of Bordeaux (header image) tackling the Listed Heritage Stakes over 1100m rather than stepping up to the 1400m of the Gr1 Golden Rose where he has been scratched, it is the path taken last year by the Coolmore and partners-raced Home Affairs who won the Heritage before finishing 5-lengths off Nature Strip in the Everest then dominating his own age group in his 3-length Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes romp.
Asked to carry 59kg on Saturday, just like Home Affairs 12 months ago, the Kacy Fogden-trained Magic Millions graduate is likely to use his speed to highlight his class with James McDonald in the saddle.
Charlie Spicer-Jenkins, Coolmore Australia’s racing manager, told ANZ Bloodstock News that Best Of Bordeaux “rated well in both races” but connections in the end believed the Heritage was the best option for the three-year-old.
“He’s a classy colt and he could have been competitive in the Golden Rose, but in the back of our minds the Heritage served Home Affairs really well in his lead-up to the Coolmore and we thought that would be a race we’d consider for [Best Of Bordeaux],” Spicer-Jenkins said yesterday.
“When he drew barrier one in the Golden Rose we had to think about our options carefully, but he can be competitive from barrier five in the Heritage. He gets James McDonald in the saddle, so that’s also in his favour.”
He said: “I think we’ll wait for Saturday and see what that throws up and then we should be a bit clearer in our thinking [for The Everest] … but obviously it’ll be our preference to have a horse that we have ownership in going into a race like The Everest.”