Emirates Target For ‘Bow’

Favored in Saturday’s G1 Emirates S. at Flemington, despite his short tenure on Australian shores, Godolphin’s Bow Creek (Ire) (Shamardal) is hoping to build on his closing second to G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas hero Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile Oct. 24. Trained by John O’Shea, the 5-year-old entire, a dual Group 2 winner going a mile in England and Ireland in 2014, rolled a pair of sixths at that level in his final two starts there, in the G2 Bet365 Mile at Sandown Apr. 24 and Ascot’s Summer Mile S. July 11, finishing behind Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the latter contest.

“You can’t take a short quote because I don’t know if he’s going to turn up,” trainer John O’Shea commented to Racenet.com.au. It’s a big ask for him second-up. If he was third-up I’d be saying yet get on him, but I just can’t be sure. He’s fitter than he was the other day and I’m happy with him but I’m still learning about the horse. It shouldn’t matter what the track conditions are going off his overseas form. A soft or heavy track won’t worry him.”

Qatar Racing’s Arod will also be making his second start Down Under. The third horse home in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury this May, the 4-year-old added another graded tally in the G3 Diomed S. June 5 before his Summer Mile win July 11. He was a good second to probable European champion miler Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. July 29 and ran 11th to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in Moonee Valley’s G1 Cox Plate trying 2040 meters Oct. 24.

Lucky Hussler (Aus) (Husson {Arg}), a winner of the G1 William Reid S. at Moonee Valley this March, ran off the board in his next four starts for trainer Darren Weir including a fourth in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality S. at Flemington Sept. 12 and a sixth in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield Sept. 26. Back on top at Caulfield going this distance in the G1 Toorak H. with Disposition (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) taking second Oct. 10, Lucky Hussler ran third in the aforementioned Crystal Mile back at Moonee Valley Oct. 24. Murray Baker trainee Turn Me Loose reported home sixth in the G1 Makfi Challenge S. Aug. 29 and was second in the Listed Paris Lane S. at Flemington Oct. 4 before a victory in the Listed Darley Semour Cup Oct. 18 one start prior to his Crystal Mile score.

If Oct. 31 G1 Myer Classic heroine Politeness (Aus) (Street Sense) maintains her form, she could also factor, riding a three-racing winning streak into the Emirates S. Saturday. The dark bay mare won the G3 William Hill Series Ht-2 S. Sept. 19 and the G3 Cape Grim Beef Steaks Oct. 10, both at Caulfield.