Tarpaulin, the promising colt by Harry Angel, will remain in Sydney for Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1100m) instead of travelling to Melbourne for the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m).
Trainer James Cummings explained that the decision to withdraw the Godolphin three-year-old from the Caulfield race was made with the horse’s long-term prospects in mind.
While Tarpaulin appeared well-suited for the Melbourne race, Cummings opted for Rosehill, where the colt will carry 55 kilograms under the Quality Handicap conditions.
“He is quite nicely weighted in the handicaps as a horse on the way through, rather than the set weights and penalties in Melbourne,” Cummings said.
Cummings further emphasised the importance of managing the horse’s workload.
“It’s probably just as important to keep the horse held together and not travelling too much in case he gets further along in the spring for races like the Danehill (Stakes), which is maybe seven weeks later, or even a Coolmore.
“It’s a long spring ahead but there is a chance that if I’m very pleased with him this weekend, I’ve got some time to freshen him up and leave something in the tank for later.”
Tarpaulin, out of the Lonhro mare Shelters, closed his two-year-old season with consecutive wins on heavy tracks. He is also a half-brother to Godolphin’s Group 2-winning sprinter, Aft Cabin.
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