On the face of it, there might not have been an obvious amount of cheer to be drawn from former top Irish stayer Alandi’s debut effort in Australia when finishing last of the 16-runners in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington earlier this month, writes Elliot Slater.
Making his debut for new trainer Robert Hickmott, the winner of last year’s Group 1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh and the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp, was understandably ring-rusty after 11 months out of action and the change of surroundings, whilst the choice to run him against smart opposition over eight furlongs was always going to be more of a pipe-opener than a genuine attempt to land the spoils for a horse who needs a minimum of fourteen furlongs to be seen at his best – his top grade win in France was over two-and-a-half miles!
I very much expect that when stepped up to a more suitable trip, Alandi will prove to Australian racegoers just why his new connections were so keen to get their hands on the Aga Khan’s colt, the son of Galileo having a high cruising speed and a willing attitude that could yet serve him well (despite top weight) in the Emirates Melbourne Cup 2010 at Flemington on November 2nd.
New trainer Hickmott will doubtless be well aware that Alandi has shown all his best form when there has been plenty of give in the ground, so any rain in the lead up to ‘the race that stops a nation’ would be very much in Alandi’s favour. On genuinely fast ground, it’s debatable as to whether or not he would be allowed to take his chance under such a crushing burden as has been allotted him by handicapper Greg Carpenter.
A 33/1 chance with British firms (although he is nearly double those Melbourne Cup odds on Betfair), Alandi certainly needs to be kept in punters’ calculations as the big race approaches.