Australian Cup Target for Defibrillate

In form galloper Defibrillate (Shocking-Our Chickaroonie, by Groom Dancer) will have a run in Listed company at Caulfield next week as he aims for potential Cup starts, reports racingnews.co.nz. "He is running on the 20th of February at Caulfield, which is probably not the ideal course for him. He has had two starts for two wins there, but it is quite tight. He is going there over 2000m in a Listed race," part owner and co-breeder Graham Richardson said. "I will leave it to (trainer) Paddy Payne and he will make his mind up whether he will go towards the Australian Cup (Gr1, 2000m) two weeks later, which is a big ask, or continue to the Mornington Cup (Listed, 2400m), which is a great race too." Defibrillate has won his last three starts in Australia including a controversial last start dead-heat. "He has just given me a big thrill," New Zealand based Richardson said. "It is quite weird not being able to watch him. The last time I went over was with Graeme and Linda McInteer, the other part-breeders. That was over a year ago and we haven't been able to go back since. It has been quite strange to watch the horse from here, but he is doing the job." In total, Defibrillate has won eight of his 12 starts and placed in two others. He is the second Listed winner for his dam Our Chickaroonie, the other being Italian Princess (Bertolini).