Jungle Cat to have last hurrah at Flemington
Star Godolphin sprinter Jungle Cat is set for the VRC Classic Sprint on the final day of the Flemington carnival before he retires to stand at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
The Charlie Appleby-trained seven-year-old will face a crack field in the race but the stable thinks he will bounce back to his best over the 1200-metre group 1, after failing over the miles in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
That result broke a winning streak that had stretched to four when he won the group 1 Rupert Clarke stakes over 1400 metres at his first start in Australia.
Travelling foreman Chris Connett said he was hopeful the horse could sign off his career with his third group 1 win after watching him work at Werribee on Thursday.
Jungle Cat looked sharp as he returned for a gallop following a short break from trackwork after the Toorak Handicap.
"He is nice and fresh," Connett told Fairfax Media.
"He is a sprinter [and] we try to keep him on that fresher side. [We] don't want to see him too flat."
Jungle Cat will miss the group 1 Manikato Stakes on Friday night at Moonee Valley but Godolphin will be well represented with the Aidan O'Brien-trained US Navy Flag working on the dirt track at Werribee alongside travelling companion Somerset Maugham on Thursday.
The four-year-old didn't appreciate the soft ground in The Everest at Randwick when he finished ninth and an improved performance is expected as he takes on locally-trained stars Kementari, Brave Smash and Sunlight in the group 1.
O'Brien also has the impressive Spirit of Valor, Intelligence Cross and Fleet Review entered in the dash under lights.
Most Viewed in Sport
Please explain
Our weekly podcast giving you insight into the stories that drive the nation.
Listen now