Races

Geraldton Cup Preview

Posted on | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Brett Pope has high hopes Bayatorio can bounce back to be a major force in the $100,000 Tabtouch-Geraldton Gold Cup (2100m) on Sunday.

The Pinjarra trainer urges punters to stick solid with the five-year-old after he was soundly beaten in the Albany Cup (2100m) two weeks ago.

“It wasn’t too much to get excited about,” Pope said on Tabradio.

“He go too far out of his ground and the leaders had a head start.

“But he grounded it out well and I would rule a line through the run.”

Bayatorio’s setback in the Albany Cup belied his earlier good form at Ascot when he ran three consecutive placings behind Saker and Uncle George over 2100m and 2400m respectively.

Drawing wide in barrier 14, the son of Oratorio will be in the hands of Troy Turner. The senior jockey won the Geraldton Cup three years ago aboard Black Tycoon for trainer, Justin Warwick.

Bayatorio, who will have to end a 673 day losing sequence, is $11 with the TAB. Heading the market is local galloper, Fleeting Glance. In an open race with many hopes, the six-year-old mare is $5.50.

The daughter of Haradasun, prepared at Walkaway by Murray Wallace, is well fancied after posting a front running three length win over Geraldton Cup rival, Hel Cool, on March 31.

Fleeting Glance, perfectly drawn in barrier three for her pattern of racing, will be out to end the dominance of Perth stayers. No locally trained horse has won the Geraldton Cup since Black Amber (2009).

Jerry Noske, who has been on Fleeting Glance for her past two victories, can end a family hoodoo in the race.

Her father, Jeff and brother, Jarrad, have been placed on two previous occasions. The former with Sea Gambler (2000-2001) and the latter on Grey Monarch (2009) and Moonlight Bay (2013).

Anne King is dreaming for a feature race double. She saddles top weight, Already Famous in the Geraldton Cup and Miki Two Toes in the Purcher International-Batavia Sprint (1300m).

Already Famous carries 58kg, a rise of 4kg on his last-start seventh to Cougar Express in the Bunbury Cup (2200m) on March 17.

The Viscount gelding missed last Sunday’s Pinjarra Cup (2300m) because of a leg injury, but King is confident she has him back on track.

“He pulled a shoe and was a little bit warm in the foot,” King said.

“But he hasn’t missed much work and is perfect now.”

Connections will be hoping Brad Parnham’s red-hot form in the saddle can extend to their Saxon gelding, Tom Almighty.

The four-year-old has been racing competively without winning, but if the race is run to suit he could emerge as an each way chance.

Tom Almighty ran an unlucky fifth in the Esperance Cup, finished runner-up in the Mount Barker Cup and was fourth in the Albany Cup.

Parnham, fresh from an Ascot treble on Wednesday, said Tom Almighty will have his chance to breakthrough.

“He has been racing consistently without winning but deserves to win, Parnham said.

Parnham is super confident on his pick-up ride, King Of The Palace, in the Batavia Sprint. The Trevor Andrews-trained six-year-old won two in a row at Ascot before a fourth to Lunar Eclipse, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, on soft going last-start.

The son of Danehill Express has been gifted a gun draw in barrier five. He holds $5 favouritism over Heavy Set ($6) and Miki Two Toes ($7).

“I’m pretty happy Trevor has given me the opportunity,” Parnham said.

“I’m going to get a nice run from the draw.

“I worked the horse the other day and he went really well.

“I’m expecting him to run a really big race and think he is a real good chance of winning it.”

Miki Two Toes will need all the luck after drawing the widest gate in the field of 14.

Julio Santarelli




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