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Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente has recorded an exciting first up win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.
Commencing a campaign aimed at the Australian Cup (2000m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), Fiorente at Caulfield last Saturday sent an ominous warning to his future rivals.
The Monsun entire was well fancied to take out the 1800m weight-for-age contest however fitness was always going to be queried resuming over the middle distance trip.
Damien Oliver positioned Fiorente worse than midfield as outsider Star Rolling led them around.
Fiorente gradually worked into the race approaching the 600m and despite perhaps hitting a flat spot on straightening, rallied well and scored a slender success over Mourayan with Star Rolling third.
2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon finished fourth, less than a length off the winner.
The six-year-old was most impressive in his first up display which yielded a Timeform rating of 120.
While well below his master figure of 125 recorded when winning the 2013 Melbourne Cup, producing it first up over 1800m suggests the UK import is in store for another strong preparation.
The performance sits right on the prior five year average of the event which has now been taken out by an imported galloper at its past three renewals.
Chris Waller’s Foreteller claimed the 2013 running while the 2012 Peter Young Stakes saw an imported trifecta of Lucas Cranach, Illo and Manighar.
Fiorente will have taken benefit from the run and with added fitness second up should take a power of beating in the Group 1 Australian Cup on March 8.
He is already the odds-on favourite for the event as Gai Waterhouse chases the Peter Young Stakes – Australian Cup double.
It is a feat which has been accomplished on 11 occasions with Pompeii Ruler the last to achieve the double in 2007.
Just since 1992 the double has been completed by Lonhro (125, 2004), Northerly (122, 2003), Istidaad (122, 1999), Dane Ripper (118, 1998), Durbridge (122, 1994) and Let’s Elope (116, 1992).
The strength of Fiorente’s return arguably overshadowed the following Group 1, where Moment Of Change claimed the Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Peter Moody’s honest sprinter has been kept busy so far this season and residual fitness was no doubt a large contributing factor to his success.
Five of his rivals were resuming while three were second up.
Moment Of Change made all for a long neck success over the fast finishing Sertorius.
The ever reliable Pinwheel ran third.
Unfortunately the event was marred by the serious leg injury sustained by 2013 Victoria Derby winner Polanski.
Major soft tissue damage means connections will likely retire the colt and negotiate a stud deal for the son of Rakti.
Now a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter, Moment Of Change’s latest success at the top level returned a Timeform rating of 121.
The figure is four pounds shy of his master Timeform figure of 125 achieved when a narrow second in the 2013 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) behind Shamexpress.