Top pacers ready to bounce back to Group 1 glory

So, when he partners the $2.90 favorite Spirit Of St Louis (Sweet Lou) in Saturday night’s (Jul. 23) Group 1 The Blacks A Fake, the five-year-old’s uncharacteristic below par performance in the Mr Feelgood Open a fortnight ago will be cast aside as a distant memory.

“He was really ordinary that night and I’m not sure what to put it down to, but that is well behind us now,” Callaghan said.

Fast forward to last Saturday night’s Sunshine Sprint and Spirt Of St Louis returned to the form which has seen him rarely beaten since last year’s Inter Dominion Grand Final.

Callaghan was suitably buoyed by Spirit Of St Louis’ fast-finishing second behind Better Eclipse over the sprint trip.

“I think he probably wins the race had we gone another 50 metres and he has come through the race well,” he said.

Callaghan revealed he will drive his charge accordingly from the favorable front row draw.

“We will use the draw to advantage and I will drive him like he is the best horse in the race,” he said.

“Since King Of Swing retired, my horse has been the dominant horse for the whole year.”

Meanwhile, champion reinsman Chris Alford is confident Amore Vita (Art Major) can atone for her shock defeat in last week’s South East Oaks by eclipsing her rivals in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

Bookmakers have installed the Nathan Purdon-trained filly a $1.60 favorite after being allocated a perfect front row alley (barrier two).

Alford revealed there were excuses for Amore Vita’s unplaced effort in the lead up to the Queensland Oaks.

“She over-raced too badly,” Alford said.

“I knew we were in trouble the moment we went out onto the track and Nathan said she bolted on him the first three times he worked her in the week leading up to the race.”

Alford said Purdon has tinkered with her race day gear in order for Amore Vita to settle better in her races.

“Nathan has put some pulling gear on her and he said she has worked a lot better this week,” he said.

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by John Dunne, for HRV