By Ben Caluzzi Warrnambool’s own Maddie Raymond has only been training for a matter of years and already she’s had in her stable the 2020/21 Country Racing Victoria Horse of the Year in Wentwood, Group 2 winner Turaath and now a live Ladbrokes Cox Plate hopeful in Earlswood. Owned by Glyn Davies and Jane Davies, who also own Wentwood, Earlswood heralded from Ireland and quickly made an impression down under, winning the Group 3 Carlyon Cup on debut and defeating 2021 Cox Plate contestant Callsign Mav and Melbourne Cup placegetter Spanish Mission. He was immediately outed after the race with shin soreness, but Raymond says the extended break could be a blessing in disguise. The imported son of Pivotal has had more time to acclimatise and strengthen for Spring, and given he was underdone in that victory at Caulfield, the sky is certainly the limit this season. “It was a tricky time back then with Covid. There wasn’t really any jump outs or trials to go so we sent him to the Carlyon basically as a trial,” Raymond said. “We wanted to see how he was going to stack up, so he was very impressive the way he went about it.” Earlswood is set for another acid test this weekend when he runs in RAYMOND’S EARLSWOOD READY FOR FEEHAN TEST
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