The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) flashed potential star power when winning last season's G1 Ranvet S., his first win at the highest level, and the Lloyd Williams colourbearer looks to add another big-race win to his CV in Saturday's one-mile G1 Cantala S., formerly the Emirates S. Sent off the favourite for the A$4-million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at The Championships off his Ranvet score, The United States performed respectably to be second. Sixth on his 6-year-old debut over a mile in the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S., he was to be set for the Cox Plate, but those plans were derailed when the chestnut came down with a minor illness. The United States recovered in time to compete on that Oct. 22 card, but Williams opted for a softer spot in the G2 Crystal Mile, and was rewarded with a one-length win. The United States could be set to make up for lost time late this campaign, with the option of backing up in the (new) Emirates S. over 2000 metres next Saturday.
“He has proven to us in the past that he is a tough horse and can handle a back-up,” Williams told Racing.com. “Think back to the autumn, he had a very tough run when runner-up in the Blamey S. at Flemington but was able to then travel to Sydney and backup within seven days to win the Ranvet S. at Rosehill. It takes a very tough horse to be able to do that so I would have no doubts in thinking that racing on three consecutive Saturdays would bother him.”
He's Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) has enjoyed a faultless spring, going unbeaten in three outings thus far including a first Group 1 win when jumping up from handicap company in the G1 Toorak H. Oct. 8. The 4-year-old gelding had won a pair of Group 3s late in the autumn, and looks to extend his win streak to six on Saturday. He's Our Rokkii will be joined in the lineup by Hayes/Dabernig stablemate Seaburge (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). As the lone 3-year-old in the lineup Seaburge enjoys a weight break of up to 15 pounds from his rivals and, as the fast-finishing second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last out Oct. 8, he has the form to figure here.
Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) currently rates the A$7.50 second choice behind The United States, with connections suggesting his last effort, a last of 13 in the G1 Epsom H. Oct. 1, can be thrown out as he didn't handle the “Sydney way” of going. The 4-year-old returns to the track and trip over which he won the G1 Makybe Diva S. two starts back Sept. 10.
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