Bivouac shines in trial ahead of The Everest

SYDNEY: A sparkling trial by Bivouac has left the Godolphin camp “totally delighted” that the horse is in the right condition to peak for Saturday week’s $15 million The Everest.

With race jockey Glen Boss aboard, Bivouac led home his stablemate Promotions in Friday’s 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm going to the line strongly and unpressured.

“He showed us just what we wanted to see, the team was totally delighted,” said trainer James Cummings.

“Glen had him nicely-controlled early which allowed the horse to use himself well.

“He’s pulled up well and his recovery demonstrated he’s ready for the lofty challenges an Everest can throw up.”

Bivouac will run in the Godolphin slot in the Everest, the world’s richest turf race, run over 1,200m at Randwick on Oct.17.

His stablemate Trekking, who finished third in the race in 2019, will join Bivouac in the 12-horse field having been selected for the slot owned by Max Whitby and Neil Werrett.

Meanwhile, Stakes-winning three-year-old Micheline goes in search of a first G1 success in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, with Antoinette set to sidestep the nine-furlong turf highlight at Keeneland, USA, on Saturday.

Micheline (Michael Stidham/Florent Geroux) was ninth on dirt in the G1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes at last year’s Keeneland Fall Meet but has since developed a high level of form on turf.

The Bernardini filly won the Honey Ryder Stakes and was runner-up in the G3 Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.

On her latest start, she swooped late to win the extended 10-furlong Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs on Sept.10. Antoinette (Bill Mott/James Graham) has established herself a top-class performer on both dirt and turf this season, placing at G1 level on both turf and dirt.

The daughter of Hard Spun kept on to finish second on turf on her latest outing in the 10-furlong G1 Belmont Oaks on Sept.19.

Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said: “Micheline is going into this on the back of a very impressive win at Kentucky Downs, which was her best race ever.

“She is giving Michael Stidham all the right signals that she is thriving and going to give her best effort. It’s a pretty tough spot for her but these G1 races are supposed to be tough and we feel she deserves her place in the field.

“Antoinette is an unlikely runner at this moment in time unless the make-up of the field changes. She is more likely to go for the G3 Pin Oak Valley View at Keeneland next week (Oct.17).”

Elsewhere, Mystic Guide bids to maintain his progressive profile when he tackles G1 company and older opposition for the first time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday.

The Michael Stidham-trained colt has improved throughout his three-year-old campaign and stretches out to a mile and a quarter after powering home from the rear of the field to win the nine-furlong G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Sept.5.

Mystic Guide (John Velazquez) also made good late headway to finish third over nine furlongs at Saratoga on his Graded debut in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes in July and was runner-up in an extended-mile allowance race at Belmont Park in June.