Racing
Spring carnival tilt beckons for Cantiamo
Cantiamo could chime into the Princess Series after kicking off her season with a gritty victory.
The win wasn't as dominant as her short quote suggested but Cantiamo did enough to break her maiden at the midweek Kensington meeting and put herself on a path to better races.
Ridden patiently by James Mcdonald, Cantiamo ($1.55) took most of the straight to wear down Nullarbor Jane ($4.80) by a long head in Wednesday's MyPlates Handicap (1150m) in an effort trainer Kris Lees said was better than it looked.
"I think there was still a bit of merit to the win," Lees said.
"They don't pay any more if they win by spaces, but she is a work in progress.
"She's got a lot of improvement to come and I think she will measure up to some better races in time."
Lees will let the dust settle before making any bold plans but has indicated a race like the Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 6 will be considered for Cantiamo, pending how she comes through Wednesday's race.
"Whether she goes to a Furious three weeks Saturday or whether that's asking a bit much of her, we'll see what else is around and see where she sits," he said.
Chris Waller also produced a promising three-year-old winner at the meeting in Sixties ($2.90 fav), a full brother to Group 1 sprinter Artorius.
The colt gave McDonald an early double with his seven-length drumming of his Inglis Xtra Bonus Handicap (1150m) rivals and while Waller planned to take a softly, softly approach for now, he was open to finding a target for the horse at the back end of the carnival.
"We've always had a bit of time for him, he has just taken a bit longer than we thought to show it," Waller said.
"Ticking the box of the first win is always important. I never get too far ahead of myself but I will go away a bit more excited to say, 'OK, what can we find for you?'.
"Naturally, you'd like to see a 12 or 1300-metre handicap on a Saturday, well short of the good horses so he can take a gradual step and maybe join up late spring."
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