Impending has the breeding to be a Guineas winner and his jockey James McDonald is confident the three-year-old also has the ability.
The colt is favourite for Saturday’s $1 million Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in which he will be out to emulate his sire, 2001 winner Lonhro.
Not only did Impending’s sire win a Guineas, the colt’s dam Mnemosyne won the Group OneThousand Guineas at Caulfield in 2005.
“He’s impeccably bred and he’s an imposing horse when you see him,” trainer John O’Shea said.
“His biggest attribute is his attitude. He’s got a wonderful attitude, as well as the ability he’s got.”
McDonald won the Caulfield Guineas on Shooting To Win two years ago and believes Impending has the right credentials.
Impending was placed behind star stablemate Astern in the Run To The Rose and Golden Rose before winning his Guineas lead-up, the Stan Fox Stakes in Sydney.
The past two winners of the Stan Fox, Press Statement and Shooting To Win, have won the Guineas.
“I love this horse,” McDonald said.
“He’s got the right attributes to be competitive in a Caulfield Guineas. He’s a very balanced horse. I’m not concerned about Caulfield at all.
“His performances so far have been very good and I think he’s the one to beat. He’s going really well.”
Impending arrived in Melbourne on Thursday morning with O’Shea believing the best preparation for the colt was to remain at Godolphin’s private training property on the north-western outskirts of Sydney for as long as possible.
“He’s a horse that we’ve had to be very patient with all his career. And the key to keeping him sound and happy has been Osborne Park,” O’Shea said.
He said the colt had settled in well and made improvement since the Stan Fox.
“He’s got to get around Caulfield on firm ground which is not the right scenario but he’s a quality colt and James is very happy with him. I think if he can get the right run, he’ll be very effective.”
Impending has barrier 10 but O’Shea believes it could work out well, starting one gate inside the James Cummings-trained Good Standing who was third in the Stan Fox.
“I think that the Cummings runner has got a lot to offer in the race and when he drew outside us I thought that presented us with an opportunity to get something to follow that will bring us a long way,” the trainer said.
