Kalapour carrying Petagna’s hopes in Caulfield Cup

Story: Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk. Photo: Grant Peters

Lib Petagna’s stayer Kalapour will be tasked with the topweight when attempting to add another Group One to his resume in Saturday’s A$5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne.

The son of War Command was imported to Australia out of Ireland after being purchased by the Wellington-based breeder, and over the past 18 months he has accumulated victories in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m), Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m), and a crowning success in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) in March.

Since returning as an eight-year-old, Kalapour finished fourth in the Gr.3 Premier Cup (2000m) before midfield finishes in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Might and Power Stakes (2000m), performances that satisfied Petagna’s racing manager Bruce Perry ahead of the Cup.

“Kris (Lees, trainer) is really happy with where he’s at, obviously he’s got a bit of weight to carry which is never easy, but we’d rather have that weight and have the Tancred in the bin,” Perry said.

“We were happy with his run last start, we probably would’ve liked to see him finish it off a bit better, but that was probably just the way the race was run, leaving him a bit flat-footed.

“He’ll strip much fitter this Saturday, it’ll probably be a big ask to win a race like this or even finish in the first two or three, but I’m sure he’ll run well and if he can finish in the first half of the field, you never know (where too next).”

On top of the book carrying 55kg, the gelding will be ridden by Ben Melham and has drawn barrier four.

Kalapour’s victory in the Archer last November earned him an automatic place in the A$8 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), where he finished among the tailenders in a race won by Without A Fight.

Petagna, who owns and operates Matamata thoroughbred nursery Elsdon Park, has accepted through the second round for this year’s Melbourne Cup, a race Perry indicated is still an option beyond Saturday’s contest.

“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday, if he came through it well you’d have to look at it,” he said.

“I’m not sure whether he’s a true two-miler against that sort of elite-level, but it’s such a great iconic race, that, if you’re running well and you’re in there, you’d probably have a go.

“No doubt Kris will make all of those decisions.”