Prominent owner and racing personality Ozzie Kheir holds a strong hand for this year’s spring carnival, with a number of highly rated horses poised to line up in feature events.
He ran through his charges and their chances this spring…
Sir Dragonet
“I’ve loved Sir Dragonet for the past 12 months. It’s been reported I have been trying him for some time now,” Kheir said.
“We think 2000m is his starting point, that’s why we are looking at a Cox Plate. We think he’s probably going to be a pretty handy stayer over the trip.
“The plan is probably going to be go to the Cox Plate, all going well and he travels well, and then we will roll the dice into the Melbourne Cup.”
Sir Dragonet is $13 for the Cox Plate.
Watch: Sir Dragonet race away in the Group 3 Chester Vase.
Take a look at this – what a performance. Breathtaking stuff from Sir Dragonet. ????
He may not have won the strongest Derby trial, but that was outstanding. He’s not entered in the Derby yet but he deserves to be after this! Brilliant! ??pic.twitter.com/0uGg4rlLwq
— James Stevens (@JamesStevens180) May 8, 2019
Verry Elleegant
“It’s very rare that you get a horse that no matter what race you enter her for, that she’s in the top three of the betting market,” he said.
“That reflects the quality horse she is. Chris Waller has done an amazing job.
“It’s pretty nice to have a horse that no matter what race you go into whether it’s a Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup that she’s going to start one of the favourites.
“If you asked me before the Winx Stakes I would have said (we should head to) the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup for sure.
“This year … who doesn’t want to win a Cox Plate? If she could win a Cox Plate and go into a Melbourne Cup, that would be amazing.
“But if I had to be guaranteed a win, I think she would be very close to winning a Caulfield Cup if the track suited on the day. I think that would be her easiest race to win.”
Verry Elleegant is $17 for the Caulfield Cup, $9.50 for the Cox Plate, and $17 for the Melbourne Cup.
Watch: Verry Elleegant take out the Winx Stakes first up.
Verry Elleegant wins a thrilling Group 1 Winx Stakes! Another ripping ride from @mcacajamez and only fitting @cwallerracing takes it home again. pic.twitter.com/p6XfdMh4b1
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 22, 2020
Finche
“He has been a handy horse for us. This will be his third Melbourne Cup campaign,” he said.
“He has had a couple of injuries and he is just returning from injury now.
“He is a genuine, hard-working horse that’s always going to be in the mix. Whether he is brilliant enough to win a Melbourne Cup is unseen, but we know he will stay the whole trip.”
Finche is $19 for the Melbourne Cup.
Watch: Finche return strongly in the Chelmsford over the mile.
Here comes the wolf! MISTER SEAWOLF wins the Chelmsford Stakes
That's @cwallerracing 6th Chelmsford Stakes! pic.twitter.com/ZJ15Pvaf60— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) September 5, 2020
Le Don De Vie
“We purchased the horse just over 12 months ago now. We bought him as a three-year-old,” Kheir said.
“He has been a nice, progressive horse and has improved his ratings. He has won his last start on unsuitable ground to him over 2400m.
“He will go to Anthony Freedman. His main target will be the Caulfield Cup and then hopefully a Melbourne Cup if he gets in.”
Le Don De Vie is $19 for the Caulfield Cup.
Watch: Le Don De Vie take out the listed August Stakes.
August Stakes – Listed
2300m, 25.500 GBP, for 3yo+
??WindsorLe Don De Vie (GB)
(4G Leroidesanimaux – Leader ene, by Selkirk)
J : @HollieDoyle1
T : Hughie Morrison
B :Miss K Rausing
O : Aziz Kheir pic.twitter.com/l5fv30pGP4— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) August 29, 2020
Tagaloa
“We will go to the Rupert Clarke, it’s a Group 1, he will get in first around 54kg and have his chance there,” he said.
“We might look at riding him a little more quieter than we have been. He’s always had to do all the work and be on pace.
“We will look at that then going into the Guineas with that being his grand final. From there we will assess, if he comes through that run and he still has gas in the tank then we will look at the Cox Plate if he is up to that level.”
Tagaloa is $10 for the Rupert Clark, and $11 for the Caulfield Guineas.
Watch: Tagaloa get nailed on the line last start in the McNeil Stakes
What a finish! 3 across the line as Immortal Love wins out in the G3 HDF McNeil S. at Caulfield. Bred & raced by @UnitedSynd, Immortal Love has won 3 from 3 and is from Moonee Valley stakes winner Loveyamadly, a ½ sister to 3 SWs in Lite’n In My Veins, Hi Word & Ducimus. pic.twitter.com/uV38z2NRTA
— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) August 29, 2020