Qatar Racing's Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is to have his first run of the year in the G1 C F Orr S. at Caulfield Feb. 11. The former Peter Chapple-Hyam trainee is now based with Chris Waller and he has already shown his affinity for Australian racing when finishing second to Rageese (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G3 L'Oreal Paris S. at Flemington last November. Arod's career highlight in Britain came at Ascot in 2015 when he beat Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G2 Summer Mile S. and he also made the great Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) work hard in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. when beaten just a half a length by the grey two weeks later. Arod's aversion to soft ground was probably a major factor in connection's decision to base him Down Under and that aversion was plain to see when the 6-year-old entire trialled recently at Randwick. Qatar Racing's Australian manager Geoffrey Faber explained to Racing And Sports, “He trialled on Friday in soft ground and he was no good. He hated it and shouldn't have gone around in it but he'll be fine when he gets down here.” Faber confirmed Arod would travel to Melbourne this week and would complete his preparations at Caulfield ahead of the C F Orr. “He's settled in well and he's up to Group One form here in Australia,” Faber added.
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