Imported galloper Bear Story is only weeks away from commencing his spring campaign after having a jump-out at Cranbourne last Monday.
An official 1000m trial at Cranbourne on August 7 will be the pre-cursor to Bear Story resuming in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.
After that it will be to Moonee Valley for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on September 9 followed by the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 23.
If successful in the Naturalism, Bear Story will head to the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield a week before the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
It was the program Grahame Begg used when Nonconformist chased home Incentivise in the 2021 Cup.
“He’s qualified for the Caulfield Cup, but we need to get his weight up a little bit,” Clinton Mcdonald said.
“I’ve spoken to the handicapper and our thought process is, run him in the Naturalism, hopefully win that and justify going to the 2023 Caulfield Cup.
“And if he doesn’t win, he’s not good enough.
“We’re taking the same program as Nonconformist did, and I think that sort of preparation is a nice one leading into a Caulfield Cup.”
A three-time winner in Ireland before coming to Australia, Bear Story had two runs at Flemington during the autumn.
McDonald said he was not disappointed in the horse during the autumn but disappointed with the luck the horse had.
“In his first run, we thought we’d have a look at him,” McDonald said.
“He drew wide, we went back on him, and it was a race where horses that got out wide, they couldn’t make ground.
“He drew another wide gate in Australian Cup, and we were going to go forward, but it didn’t work out as he got posted three-deep on speed and they went along at a good clip.
“We know he’s a very good horse and has good ability in what he has shown us at home. Everyone that rides him, all the best jockeys that have been on him, all like him.
“He’s going well and having those runs under the belt in the autumn is going to hold him well for this preparation.”