Mike Moroney is expecting boom stayer Aktau to show he’s on track for the Caulfield Cup with a forward showing in the Turnbull Stakes.
“It’s going to be a tough assignment but I think he’s ready to run a big race and it will bring him on to peak in the Caulfield Cup,” Moroney said.
Aktau will take on a star-studded line up in Saturday’s 2000 metre feature at Flemington as he will be up against Verry Elleegant, Surprise Baby, Master Of Wine, Superstorm, Dalasan and Vow And Declare.
From his first four Australian starts, Aktau won three races and finished third on the other occasion and his first-up ninth over 1700 metres at Flemington was his first unplaced run here.
Moroney said it was a pleasing effort and there were excuses as he was caught wide and had to face the breeze.
He will be ridden in the Turnbull Stakes by Daniel Moor who will retain the ride for the Caulfield Cup.
Aktau secured a golden ticket into the 2020 Caulfield Cup when he won the Mornington Cup in March.
The five-year-old is 50th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry.
“Hopefully he can get in the Melbourne Cup from his next two starts but if he hasn’t got in, we will look at running him in the Hotham Handicap,” Moroney said.
