Gosford preview: Trainer Kylie Gavenlock anticipates a strong performance from Renoir in his mile test

News.com.au

09-07-2025

Trainer Kylie Gavenlock has been quite happy with Renoir in his two runs back from a spell and feels the gelding can run a bold race when he gets his first opportunity over a suitable distance.
The four-year-old was spelled after one run in September of 2023 and returned from his long break with a fifth behind Donwon over 1000m at Gosford on May 29.
Renoir followed up with a fifth to Caelus over 1300m at Hawkesbury where he was doing his best work through the line.
The four-year-old's pedigree also suggests he will be much better suited to the mile and further being a son of Dundeel from a granddaughter of Adrian Knox Stakes winner, Starry Way.
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'He was only just getting wound up the last little bit the other day but he was very good after the post,' said Gavenlock.
'I was quite happy with his first-up run too. The distance was too short but I don't think the heavy track suited him.
'While he got through it okay, he will appreciate the bit better going this week.
'Now that we have got him up to the mile, I think that should suit him a lot more.'
Gavenlock feels Renoir is ready to run much better than a $31 chance in the Eagles Plumbing Plus Super Maiden Plate (1600m).
'This doesn't look the strongest Super Maiden and I wouldn't have thought he would the price that he is. He is worth a couple of bucks each-way,' she said.
Gavenlock's other two runners are both first-up but she feels they can run well.
Alfred will resumes in the Bateau Bay Bowling Club Maiden Plate (1100m).
While unplaced in his seven runs to date, Alfred has finished fourth and fifth in five of them.
'He's probably a little unlucky not to have had a couple of placings,' Gavenlock said.
'He is a horse that is not mature yet. He is a really leggy horse and I feel next time in, he will be a better deal.'
The son of Saxon Warrior will need a little luck after drawing the outside barrier.
'It's a sticky gate for him. I would have liked he draw in a bit rather than (barrier) eight of eight. It is what it is.
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'If he begins really well, he could get stuck out there but Josh (Parr) is no mug so hopefully he can make up for that draw.
'He will come out and find his feet and hopefully be flying home.'
Gavenlock had a difficult decision to make with Thebes when she accepted for two races which he had mixed fortune with the barrier draw.
In the Class 1 (1200m), he drew the outside in barrier 11 while in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) he came up with gate 2.
'It's a shame he didn't draw better in the Class 1 because this (Benchmark 64) is quite a strong race,' she said.
'Just being first-up, I wanted him to get a nice, soft run. I didn't want to take the chance of him being caught wide.
'I'd rather him flying home to run second not dropping out of it because he overraced early.'
The son of American Pharoah has shown nice ability on his short career.
He finished third behind Bartolf at Scone at just his second start last July while broke his maiden in nice style at Taree back on January 7.
'I like him a lot and when he gets up to 1400 metres and mile this time in, I think he will be a very nice horse,' she said.
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Ghaznavi may still be a maiden after 17 starts but trainer Cameron Crockett's faith in the gelding still remain strong.
The four-year-old joined Crockett's Scone stable earlier this year and has placed in three of his five starts went within a nose of breaking through when a nose second behind Saint Philomena over 1400m at Mudgee last start.
'We are still figuring the horse out. He's been a hard to work out,' said Crockett.
'It doesn't normally take this long because he's got ability.
'He's a 17 start maiden but he's a got a lot more ability than that.
'It wouldn't shock me that once we get a good handle on him, he really puts a few wins together.'
After settling back and wide from barrier eight of 11, Ghaznavi made a sustained run around the field and came down the outside fence to just miss.
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'He was very unlucky. He was just stuck a bit deep from the draw and Will (Stanley) couldn't do anything about it,' he said.
'We were always planning on making an early run. It's just a shame he hadn't drawn a bit low and settled a bit closer because I think he would have won.'
The son of Invader looks well placed to go one better when he steps out in the Maas Mile Maiden Handicap (1600m) with Mathew Cahill aboard.
'Now that he is up to a mile and the races are run at a steadier tempo, I think he can settle a bit closer which will help,' he said.'
Crockett has liked what he has seen from recent stable addition Durova who makes her debut for the stable in the Toohey's New Benchmark 74 Handicap (1000m).
The three-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution was previously trained by Ciaron Maher and won first-up last September while her last run was a handy fourth to First Mission at Canterbury on April 30.
'I bought her online a few weeks ago. She went through for $55,000 but failed the scope so they sent her back,' Crockett explained.
'My being an opportunist, when she went back online, I bought her for $13,000.
'Ash Morgan rode her at her at Canterbury and he said she was very unlucky not to have won after racing on the fence which was off that day.
'The 1000 metres might be a touch short for her but if she isn't winning, she will be the run of the race.'