Kavanagh puts positive Spiel on Cup hope
09 May, 2008
Mark Kavanagh is tipping an improved run from stakes performer Spielmeister at Caulfield after two unplaced sprint efforts since he joined the stable this campaign.
Formerly trained by David Hayes, the five-year-old steps up to 1400m after failing to threaten over 1100m at his past two starts at Morphettville and Caulfield.
"This is more his trip and I think he will improve a lot," Kavanagh said.
On paper, Spielmeister's two recent runs may fail to inspire punters but Kavanagh believes they have benefited the horse and that he will race closer to the speed and settle much better in Saturday's Thoroughbred Club Cup.
"The reason we raced him in those two races and got him to settle back a bit was because he had been over-racing a touch in his races when he was with his previous stable," Kavanagh said.
"I thought he had thrown a few races away by being hunted to the front and I wanted him to settle."
At his debut for Kavanagh, Spielmeister finished near the tail of the field at Morphettville on March 29 then passed a couple of horses when he ran on from last for ninth in the Pink Ribbon Cup at Caulfield last month.
He was beaten almost five lengths by Blahnik in that race but Kavanagh was impressed with the way Spielmeister hit the line.
"His sectionals last start were better than anyone's," Kavanagh said.
"They went slow early but they really sprinted home and it was hard for anyone to make ground that day."
Spielmeister is a Singspiel entire and has won five of his 25 starts and nearly $300,000 in prizemoney.
As a three-year-old he was fourth to Apache Cat in the Australian Guineas while last year he was stakes placed in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Sandown and the Group Three Ellerston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Meanwhile, Danny O'Brien is upbeat about the prospects of Archie Senior in the Thoroughbred Club Cup after his encouraging first-up fifth in the Pink Ribbon Cup.
"I expect him to be somewhere close to his best tomorrow," O'Brien said.
"I am very pleased with the way he has come on.
"He is drawn a bit awkwardly (11) but he gets to his best distance at 1400 metres where he has had most of his success."
A winner of seven races from 19 starts, Archie Senior has scored four times over 1400m and is a logical contender for the Winter Championship series which kicks off later this month.
Kavanagh said Spielmeister was also likely to target the series.
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