A year ago, Vision And Power began an amazing journey with
his first stakes victory in the Listed Parramatta Cup.
On Saturday, he lines up at the Rosehill meeting again but
this time as a proven weight-for-age performer in the Group
Two Apollo Stakes (1400m).
It will be the dual Group One winner's first start since he
finished out of the money in the Cox Plate but trainer Joe
Pride has given him two barrier trials to get him ready.
"He's well and I'm pleased with his fitness level," Pride
said. "Hopefully the track is still rain affected on
Saturday.
"He needs the sting out of the ground. He still goes well on
good tracks but not on hard tracks."
After his Parramatta Cup victory under 59kg, trainer Joe
Pride threw Vision And Power in the deep end and he rose to
the surface with his second to Tuesday Joy in the Group One
Chipping Norton Stakes.
From there he ran a close fourth to Theseo in the Ranvet
Stakes before claiming the rare Group One double of the
George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile with both races again
on the agenda, weather permitting.
Pride is not aiming as high with stablemate Hadaaf who will
join Vision And Power in the Apollo.
The free-striding seven-year-old is adept on all surfaces and
comes into the race off a fair fifth to Miss Maren over 1400
metres at Caulfield last Saturday week.
"I thought perhaps he was ridden a bit too well, too pretty,
at Caulfield," Pride said. "He's the type of horse that
really needs to just bowl along in front, you can't restrain
him.
"I think he will be leading this field on Saturday because
there are a lot of horses which like to get back."
There were 15 entries for the Apollo with George Main Stakes
winner Road To Rock a likely defector to the Carlyon Cup in
Melbourne.
South Australian star Alcopop will make his first Sydney
appearance in the Apollo at what will also be his first race
in the right-handed direction.
Alcopop will do all his autumn racing in Sydney with the
$2.25 million BMW on April 3 his ultimate target.
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