Racing NSW Head of Media and Communications Ray Hickson did an interview with ARBEITSAM's jockey Tim Clark ahead of the $150,000 Listed Rowley Mile this Thursday at Hawkesbury. Ray wrote:
Tim Clark says he has every reason to be confident in exciting front-runner Arbeitsam as the in-form four-year old faces his biggest test at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Arbeitsam has shown grit, versatility and a ruthless attitude as he’s sailed through the grades this winter and will again be the horse to catch in the Listed $150,000 Rowley Mile (1600m).
Tim Clark saw plenty of Arbeitsam’s backside in the gelding’s easy 4-3/4 length win over 1800m at Rosehill on August 12 as he rode third placed Sultan Of Swing but two weeks earlier he was doing the steering as he led all the way over 1400m.
"He’s hardly put in a bad run, he’s been very consistent and he’s been doing it over a range of distances,’’ Clark said.
"He’s been a bit of a find over the winter. He was extremely dominant last start and won with a leg in the air, he was most impressive.
"With the form he has been in, it’s been nothing short of brilliant, and I’m going into the race full of confidence.’’
Arbeitsam will be aiming to give co-trainer Gai Waterhouse her sixth (6th) Rowley Mile success.
The champion trainer has won the Hawkesbury feature previously with The Offer (2015), Rabbuka (2008), Beauty Watch (2007), Fiery Venture (2003) and Adamantly (2001).
"It looks an ideal target for him, Gai and Adrian (Bott) were keen to go to Hawkesbury with him to target this race and he gets in with a nice weight as well,’’ Clark said.
"He’s a good, tough, honest gelding that has come of age, he has a will to win and it’s a perfect race for him to continue on his winning run.’’
In early markets ARBEITSAM is a dominant $1.55 favourite ahead of $4.80 PELETHRONIUS, $9.00 KINGSGUARD, $11.00 ELLE LOU, etc.
From our
Team Dynamic perspective, it’s certainly not a one horse race.
ARBEITSAM is meeting previous Gr1 winner & twice Gr1 placed
LASQUETI SPRIT (Curtis), along with Gr3 winner & twice Gr3 placed
ELLE LOU (Waller), last start Rosehill Open Company winner
KINGSGUARD (Hawkes), also
PELETHRONIUS (Pfieffer) a winner of 7 of 14 starts, last start Coffs Harbour Cup winner
DARCI’S AFFAIR (Murray),
ZAUNKONIG (Snowden) also has claims and has been set for the race, whilst Irish import
KINEMA (Waller) has obvious talent on exposed form.
ARBEITSAM has made nice progression through restricted 3yo company and then at his most recent start stepped up taking on the older horses at Open Company and won with authority however this is another jump in class again. He is taking on a stakes race for the first time.
Importantly his work has been sensational leading into the event and the stable are extremely confident he will run well again. He certainly appears that he hasn’t gone backwards in his trackwork and his stable demeanour is spot on. He is a happy, health and sound horse who has reached peak fitness.
Gai Waterhouse stated: “he has come out of his emphatic win at Rosehill in great form. On Thursday morning the gelding glided over 6 furlongs with Brenton Avdulla on board, running the last 200m in 12.0 seconds. Brenton reported, “He feels great, he’s a very happy horse and his confidence is sky high. On Tuesday 22/8 he worked and cruised home his last furlong in 11.8 unextended.”
He has given his owners a wonderful journey to date and promises to keep raising the bar.
Most of his owners haven’t enjoyed Black-Type success previously and their dream of winning a Stakes Race is every owners aspiration so with fingers crossed, we remain hopeful that
ARBEITSAM may deliver for his ownership team.
Whatever the result, the excitement the owners have already been delivered is enormous.
From winning his maiden at Wyong on debut, he has taken his record to
12 starts: 5-2-3 and $385,400. His other 4 race wins so far were Sydney Saturday class events – twice at Warwick Farm and twice at Rosehill.
This preparation ARBEITSAM has raced 6 occasions: 3 wins, 2 seconds and earned $264,500.
Along his career, he has banked
$87,500 in BOBS Bonuses which the majority of owners have converted to Double-Up Vouchers.
A nice result for the
$120,000 Magic Millions purchase from Macquarie Stud.
Should things pan out for ARBEITSAM in the $150,000 Rowley Mile on Thursday he will be aimed at the $160,000 Wyong Gold Cup 2100m on Friday 1st September.
We wish all connections ongoing success with ARBEITSAM