Improving colts have claims in G3 Carbine Club

The young sprinters Beau Geste and Gaulois will be looking to prove themselves genuine Stakes performers when they run in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

And on the same card, the veteran stayer Havana Cooler (Hugh Bowman) is out to get his latest campaign on track in the G3 Lexus Stakes.

For Beau Geste (Craig Williams), the Carbine Club also provides him the chance to take his revenge on the three-year-olds who beat him in the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield at his last start.

“He had no luck in the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield,” said trainer James Cummings.

“On a day when you had to be nearer the inside he was wide all the way.

“He’s up to a mile for the first time and if he can be ridden a little quieter from a nice barrier he can certainly turn the tables on the horses who beat him home last time.”

Beau Geste’s stable companion Gaulois (Brenton Avdulla) steps up to Stakes company for the first time in the Carbine Club, but is a colt on the improve.

“He’s been targeted specifically for this race and comes off a strong last-start win three weeks ago. It was only at Kembla Grange but it was a Class Two over seven furlongs and the second placegetter came out and won nicely since,” Cummings said 

“We feel like Gaulois is ready to run the mile and he’s got the class to be competitive in a race of this nature.”

Havana Cooler’s only Australian win came in the G3 Doncaster Prelude 18 months ago, but Cummings expects him to be suited on Saturday.

“This horse has been half a run behind this preparation and we thought we saw him returning to a bit of form last start in the ATC St Leger.

“He was unlucky not to win this race a couple of years ago and with a bit of improvement he’s a top-five chance.”