Colless May Get River Flowing

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday April 22, 2006

Max Presnell.

If Lachlan River can find peace, he is a major Sydney Cup contender, writes Max Presnell.

THE erratic Lachlan River, expected to benefit from the guidance of Glen Colless, could prove the major hurdle for the vastly improved Fooram in today's $800,000 Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick.

A headstrong four-year-old gelding, Lachlan River, under Colless, was an excellent fifth to the mighty Makybe Diva in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington last November.

Of course, recent form is a most significant factor which is why Fooram, with Darren Beadman pressing the right buttons, is so popular. Certainly On A Jeune is a worthy contender against Fooram on his Melbourne Cup second last year but the jury is still out about his recent performances.

Perhaps jockey Dan Nikolic wasn't overwhelmed by the effort of Lachlan River, either, when the pair combined for a weakening seventh to Eremein in The BMW over 2400 metres last start on April 8. However, many felt Nikolic made too much use of the four-year-old in a race with a demanding tempo.

Trainer John Morrisey has restricted Lachlan River to a weight-for-age campaign to season the gelding for the 3200m today. Before the Melbourne Cup, Lachlan River was stirred up, with the noise and the big Flemington crowd contributing, taking him far beyond the passive mood usually required for such a task. Due to his appearance Lachlan River was examined by the official vet at the barrier and passed fit to start. Possibly due to his temperament he will always be inclined to fizz up but he is now more mature so the odds are Colless will be able to get a peak performance from him.

Still, Fooram, much scorned until his past two wins, is the worthy favourite, particularly going on the way he won the 2600m Chairman's Handicap at Randwick last Saturday. Obviously the John O'Shea-Beadman combination has found the key to the New Zealand-bred five-year-old, now primed for a group 1 occasion.

While Lachlan River, On A Jeune and Demerger, another major player today, were undergoing campaigns for the Big One last year, Fooram was resting in preparation for the autumn.

On her best form Demerger, an Adelaide Cup winner over the 3200m, would be a strong contender. Yes, the mare did win at Flemington on March 18, accounting for Kindjhal and Diamond Jake, but that form has hardly stood up. On suspicion Demerger can do better she is on my short list with Lachlan River, Fooram, and the New Zealander Zabeat, a proven two-miler. The major plus for lightweight Molotov is potential but the quick rise from 2000m to 3200m makes him risky.

VERDICT: Stick with the form horse Fooram, but Lachlan River for the first three.

STAY WITH HAYES: While the three-year-olds, particularly Paratroopers, have strong credentials in the All-Aged Stakes, Niconero, from the David Hayes stable, should be considered. Maybe Niconero ended up eighth to Racing To Win in the Doncaster at Randwick last Monday but was beaten only 2.5 lengths after striking trouble.

Paratroopers likes to race up front as does Dance Hero and should Snitzel start he, too, will contribute to a strong tempo, thus enabling Craig Williams on four-year-old Niconero, with three wins and two thirds from seven starts over the 1400m journey, to get the last run at them.VERDICT: Try the Niconero-Paratroopers quinella.

MENTAL STRENGTH: Miss Finland is clearly the best two-year-old in Australia on her 1200m Golden Slipper success, for which she was in peak form and carrying blinkers for the first time. Today the filly has to extend to 1600m after a setback that made her miss the AJC Sires' Produce at Randwick last Saturday.

And trainer David Hayes has dropped the blinkers. Possibly class will carry her through but supporters will have to take short odds to find out. Without Miss Finland there is no stand-out. Excuses could be found for Mentality, with Beadman up, in the Sires' Produce and most of the others in the event for that matter.

However, Mentality raced fiercely from a wide gate before being bounced around by turbulence and shunted wide. From the one gate in the Champagne, Beadman could get him to settle better and produce the finish with which the youngster bolted away from Excites, the sires' winner, at their previous clash.

VERDICT: Mentality.

GO WITH CLASS: Before Eremein's triumph in The BMW, 2400m, at Rosehill last start it was obvious trainer Allan Denham had him prime for the distance, thus the question arises: can he come back to 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth today and be as effective?

Last year Eremein scored in the AJC Derby, also 2400m, but was the beaten favourite next start in the Packer Plate, 2000m. Eremein is more seasoned now and the calibre of his opponents is questionable. For instance, Desert War went solidly but not as well as expected in the Doncaster. Are Above Deck and Casual Pass up to wfa class? Aqua D'Amore and Ike's Dream don't seem to be quite at their best.

VERDICT: Eremein is very good. No question about that.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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