Oakleigh Plate No Certainty For Malibu
15 February, 2018
Thoroughbred
Consistent sprinter Malibu Style is no certainty to contest next Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, with trainer Neville Parnham waiting to see how strong the field will be.
Parnham was initially keen to launch Malibu Style’s third interstate campaign in the sprinting feature next weekend, but with a number of star sprinters from the east coast also heading to that race, he said he is thinking about waiting for another race later in the autumn.
“He’s ready to go whenever we find the right race for him,” Parnham said.
“He will be nominated for the Oakleigh Plate next week, but just listening which way trainers are going with horses, it might turn out to be a strong year for the Oakleigh Plate.
“I’ll just wait and have a look at nominations on Monday and if I’m keen to run, he will fly out any day from there, but there is a race over there every week for him.”
The Magnus gelding returned with a comfortable trial win at Ascot on Tuesday, where he beat his three rivals by three lengths.
Parnham said although it wasn’t the strongest opposition, he was pleased with Malibu Style’s effort.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he said.
“He was expected to win the trial, but what he did was quite impressive, he didn’t come off the bridle and he will benefit from having a good hitout.”
Parnham has nominated the gelding for the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 10, but said he also had some targets later in the Autumn carnival mapped out.
“His main target would probably be the Hareeba at Mornington,” he said.
“I think that’s a track that would suit him.
“He will have three or four runs over there, and probably leave him over there with someone after that.”
The Hareeba Stakes (1200m) is the feature sprint on Mornington Cup day, worth $200,000 at Listed level.
Meanwhile, Parnham said Hoboken could develop into a Saturday class horse in future campaigns, after his win in the Lavazza Handicap at Ascot on Wednesday.
“I think there’s more wins in him,” he said.
“He showed good promise very early in his career.”
Tim Walker