G1 Guineas holds no fears for Impending

Godolphin’s bid for the first classic of the Australian season rests with a colt who has spent much of his preparation in the shadow of the stable’s star performer, Astern.

But such is the strength of the three-year-olds in the care of trainer John O’Shea, Impending is clearly the horse to beat in the G1 Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne on Saturday, October 8.

Impending, who will be ridden by James McDonald, goes into the Guineas off his victory in the G2 Stan Fox Stakes, a race in which he announced himself as a perfect replacement for Astern who was forced to miss the Guineas after suffering a minor setback.

Since that race on September 24, Impending has remained in Sydney where his work has included some vital gallops in the right-handed direction of the Caulfield track.

“He has had a great preparation this Spring and we have kept him at Osborne Park following his Stan Fox Stakes win,” O’Shea said.

“He’s had three gallops the Melbourne way since his win and he has been very effective.”

Before his last-start win Impending had shown himself to be well above average when third behind Astern in the G1 Golden Rose and the G2 Run To The Rose, races which brought together Australia’s best three-year-olds.

The same races also suggested Impending would be suited by the 1600m of the Guineas, as does his pedigree.

Impending is by the Darley stallion Lonhro from the Encosta De Lago mare Mnemosyne who won the G1 Thousand Guineas at the corresponding Caulfield meeting in 2005.

While Impending has drawn gate 10 in the 14-runer field, O’Shea believes his colt’s chances haven’t been seriously affected.

“From the gate he is likely to be back in the field a little but this shouldn’t be a problem given his racing pattern,” he said.

“We’re happy with the way he is going and look forward to him arriving in Melbourne later in the week.”

Impending will also be out to maintain the sparkling form of Godolphin’s Australian team which notched up two G1 victories among an eight-winner haul last weekend.