By Alan Carasso
Godolphin's Bow Creek (Ire) (Shamardal) figures a strong favourite in Saturday's G1 Australian Cup at Flemington as he squares off against fully seven of the same rivals that chased him home in the G2 Peter Young S. at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
A dual Group 2 winner over a mile in Europe when under the care of trainer Mark Johnston, the 5-year-old was a gallant second in his Australian debut behind recent G1 Futurity S. winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G2 Crystal Mile last October before finishing 12th to that one in a soft-ground renewal of the G1 Emirates S. at this venue. Spelled thereafter, the 130,000gns Tattersalls October graduate was not beaten all that far when 13th to Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) in the 1400-metre G1 C F Orr S. on his return to the races Feb. 13, but overcame a studder-step start and some stretch traffic to defeat Fenway (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Mourinho (Aus) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the Peter Young.
Dual German top-level scorer Our Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) looks primed to make an Australian breakthrough after some promising efforts to date. Runner-up in the G3 Bart Cummings S. last October, he backed up on two weeks' rest to fill third spot behind Mongolian Khan (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the G1 Caulfield Cup and wasn't embarrassed when 10th, beaten under four lengths, in the G1 Melbourne Cup. The bay was first-up in the Peter Young and raced outside the eventual winner entering the final 200 metres, but his passage from there was full of potholes and he could do no better than fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. A clean run and Saturday's added real estate can aid his cause.
Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), winner of last year's G1 Turnbull S. over this course and distance, was seventh in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over the metric mile and a half in December. The 4-year-old outran very long odds to finish fourth, beaten just over four lengths, behind superstar mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Chipping Norton S. going a mile at Randwick Feb. 27 and should come on for that effort and this extended trip.
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