Melbourne Cup favourite Circle Of Fire commenced his spring campaign with a subdued effort at the Cranbourne jumpouts on Monday morning.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, the import finished last in the opening heat on a heavily rain-affected track with John Allen in the saddle.
“We were really pleased,” said assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.
“First use of the ground over 800m, he was never going to get close to them. It wasn’t about that; it was more about wind and action.
“I thought he showed good endeavour, Johnny was very happy with him post-trial, he was very clean in the wind and recovered very quickly, so his second (jumpout) in a fortnight or so might be over 1200m, we’ll just see how the ground does play but I think we saw what we wanted to do this morning.”
Turnbull indicated that Circle Of Fire will likely return to racing at the end of August, with the Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 as a potential starting point.
The son of Almanzor, who won the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in his most recent run, is preparing for his second racing preparation in Australia.
“It’s hard to say if he’s improved, I think physically, he’s better off,” Turnbull said.
“He had a few niggly feet issues when he first came over and his general action has improved. A little bit longer in our system, he’s been up in Sydney, back down to Victoria, where he’s been before.
“He is better off and naturally he should improve again.”
Horse racing bookmakers has Circle Of Fire at $11 in Melbourne Cup betting markets.
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