Feroce back with more G1 targets

[Wandering Eyes]

Last year’s Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) is set return to racing this Saturday at Caulfield, where his trainer Dom Sutton is hopeful he can re-affirm his Group One form of 12 months ago.

Sutton explained on Saturday that Feroce was likely to run first-up in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan (1400m) in a race that is likely to dictate which path the four-year-old takes this autumn.

“He trialled on Friday (at Flemington) so we want to make sure he’s come through that trial,” Sutton said. “We haven’t made any set plans whether we go back to Group One level or stay in Group Two or Group Three level.

“He’s come back really well, and he did show us plenty in the spring so we’re hopeful. The beginning of the spring was really good for him as he ran a personal best when third in the Group One (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes) and then we got things wrong tactically in the Toorak.

“After that, we went to Sydney (for the Golden Eagle) and it rained the morning of and the ground was horrific and he never went a yard in it.

“But he’s shown that he is up to that level and if he runs well on Saturday then he’d probably go to the (G1) Futurity Stakes two weeks later.”

Sutton said he carried some confidence that Feroce can compete successfully at Group One level this autumn as the subsequent record of Australian Guineas winners suggest.

Subsequent Group One record of Australian Guineas winners (past 10 years):

2024 – Southport Tycoon (went on to win the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes)

2023 – Legarto (won Gr.1 Herbie Dike Stakes)

2022 – Hitotsu (win Gr.1 ATC Derby)

2021 – Lunar Fox – no more Group One wins

2020 – Alligator Blood (won six more Group Ones)

2019 – Mystic Journey (won inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile)

2018 – Grunt (won Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes)

2017 – Hey Doc (Won Gr.1 Manikato Stakes and Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes)

2016 – Palentino (won Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes)

2015 – Wandjina (ran 2nd Gr.1 All Aged Stakes)

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