First Immortal stamps his authority
Mark and Levi Kavanagh have some thinking to do after First Immortal gave a glimpse of his staying prowess in taking out the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m).
Persan won the corresponding race in 2020 before going on to win the Group 3 The Bart Cummings and then finish fifth in that year’s Melbourne Cup.
First Immortal had won two of his three previous starts at Flemington over 2000m and was conceding considerable weight to his rivals at his first try at 2500m on Saturday.
But that did not stop the three-year-old who showed a terrific burst of speed at the 400m mark to put the race beyond doubt.
“We were watching in amazement as he got out and ate up the straight and really extended to the line,” Levi Kavanagh said.
“We haven’t got any set plans.
“We had some talks earlier and were talking about bypassing the spring and targeting next year, but after an impressive victory like that we might have to have a think about it.
“We’ll let the dust settle and decide whether he has another one in the winter and give him a decent spell or whether we decide to do something else.”
A Golden Path to the future
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained appreciated the flatter Flemington track with a dominant display in the Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m).
A Pakenham maiden winner on debut, Golden Path did not handle the dip early in the straight when just touched out at Sandown at his second start.
Relishing the different track on Saturday, Golden Path was allowed to roll forward by jockey Beau Mertens before racing away to a 3-¼ length win.
“He is very talented,” Kent Jnr said.
“His best is still a long way away because he has a lot of furnishing still to do, but it’s a great asset to have tactical speed, on a genuine tempo and then put them away.
“He was quite impressive.”
Kent Jnr indicated Golden Path could return to Flemington in two weeks' time for a 1700m race, but added the best from the gelding was still 12 months away.