Hurdle racing’s new star The Cunning Fox (NZ) (Reliable Man) will not try to replicate his super jumping form on the flat, with the emerging grey galloper to miss Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington.
Co-trainer Patrick Payne said on Tuesday he has decided the Australian Hurdle (3900m) at Sandown on June 1 is a better option, rather than racing on the flat at Flemington.
“He’s come through Warrnambool really well and I nominated him (for the Ramsden) just to have a look, but I just think we will concentrate on jumping with him,” Payne said.
“He’s very efficient and very determined when he jumps.”
Only a six-year-old, The Cunning Fox has not won on the flat for more than 12 months but is unbeaten in his five hurdle races to date. His latest outing was in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool and Payne said that victory showed just how quickly he is rising up the ratings for jumpers.
“He has gone up the ratings very quickly so I think he’ll be OK to run in the Australian Hurdle and then we might have to look at being a bit smarter (running in set-weights races) as he’s still young,” he said.
The Cunning Fox carried a jumps rating of 121 when he won his second jumps start at Sandown at the end of last season, but his three jumps wins this season have seen his figure rise to 138.
In comparison, Affluential (NZ) (Zed), who he beat at Warrnambool, is rated at 136 and is the reigning Grand National Hurdle winner.
While Payne will be careful to protect The Cunning Fox through the season through set-weights hurdle races, he is hopeful of still figuring in the big jumps races towards the end of the season.
“Nassak Diamond (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) is our next hope,” Payne said of the six-year-old mare. “She had two jumping races last season and this time around we’ll concentrate on the big steeplechases and next year’s Grand Annual.”