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Pillars Spot For Machiavellian Would Be Music To Hickman’s Ears

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Greg Hickman has two plans for promising three-year-old All Machiavellian – one that involves the Four Pillars and one that doesn’t.

As the Warwick Farm trainer prepares to take stablemate Tudor Music to Kensington on Wednesday for her first-up assignment in the Harry Angel @ Darley Handicap (1000m) he said after All Machiavellian’s impressive Newcastle win last weekend he believes he’d be a force in the inaugural Four Pillars.

The gelding made it three wins from his past four starts when he scored over a mile and with experience at Group 3 level prior to the latest win Hickman said he’s racing in peak form.

“We had bigger ideas for him and when he came out in that Group 3 the other day and it didn’t happen the way we wanted we decided to aim at the Four Pillars,’’ Hickman said.

“We thought we’d bring him back in distance and that’s why he ran at Newcastle over 1600m. He’s pulled up like he hasn’t gone around and I’m sure the Four Pillars won’t be the biggest race he’ll run in.”


All Machiavellian wins at Newcastle on Saturday

The Group 3 was the Gloaming Stakes over 1800m won by Head Of State with Spring Champion Stakes winner Profondo in second place. He drew wide there and settled near last with few horses making significant ground in the race.

Hickman said his Newcastle win was a big confidence booster for the horse.

“In trackwork he’s just smoking it, but I think the penny dropped a bit the other day when he took some inside runs and did a few things extra,’’ he said.

“He’s improved each start, all I know is if he gets a run they’ll want to be pretty good to be holding him out. If we don’t get there we’ll go to a Saturday race for three-year-olds and pick up the BOBS.”

The $700,000 Four Pillars (1500m) is run on Golden Eagle Day, October 30.

Honest mare Tudor Music had a mixed preparation in the late autumn which kicked off by taking on Lost And Running, she was beaten under a length in a Benchmark 72 at Canterbury and placed at Warwick Farm in April.

The four-year-old has had an official trial and a jump out to prepare for her first-up task and Hickman is certain she’s going well enough to give a big sight.

“I’ve targeted this race because there’s not that many 1000m races out there and hopefully I’ve got her as good as we possibly can,’’ he said.

“She’s in good fettle, I think it is the right race for her.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Kensington meeting

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