First Immortal, trained by Mark and Levi Kavanagh, is gearing up for a pivotal campaign with his sights set on securing berths in both the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the illustrious Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
After his last outing, a seventh-place finish in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) back in October, First Immortal is poised to make his return to the track at Caulfield this Saturday in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m).
Levi Kavanagh shared insights into their strategic approach, stating, “We haven't locked in anything, but at this stage we're heading to the Mornington Cup and the Andrew Ramsden. That's the sort of path we like and keep him at home, but there are plenty of options there.”
He further elaborated on their campaign plans, highlighting the importance of flexibility based on the horse's performance, stating, “We'll see how he comes through his first run and where he heads to next will be based on that.”
Reflecting on past challenges, Kavanagh acknowledged the pressure they faced last year due to ratings constraints but expressed optimism about their current position, saying, “We had a bit of pressure on last year but didn't quite get into the races we wanted to as we didn't have the ratings for it. We've got a higher rating now, but it certainly can take the pressure off if we can win one of them.”