Eight runners line up across Australia and Ireland this weekend, highlighted by Inverloch in Friday’s Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup and our two representatives in Saturday’s Listed Gosford Cup, Young Rascal and Mr Satchmo.
FRIDAY
Wagga
Group 3 winning gelding Inverloch will contest the Listed 2000m Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (Race 7 – 4:20 pm), despite finding an unsuitable firm surface. Co-trainer Trent Busuttin is confident in our gelding’s ability to perform fourth up, saying that he has continued to thrive since finishing fifth behind the Chris Waller-trained Yonkers at Caulfield last start.
Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, confirmed Inverloch to be in excellent order both physically and mentally, ahead of the $200,000 feature, and is confident in his ability to turn the tables on the aforementioned Yonkers. Leading South East NSW jockey Matthew Cahill has been booked to ride and will be instructed to press forward from the low draw to maintain a prominent position. From there, we expect Inverloch to relax under Cahill and prove hard to run down at a distance that is right up his alley.
Cranbourne
Trainer Archie Alexander is pleased by three-year-old filly Milonia ahead of tonight’s 1600m Fillies and Mares Maiden (Race 1 – 5:30 pm). Archie can’t fault her work in recent weeks and expects her to be finding the line well under Jake Noonan, with luck from barrier 2. We are confident that Milonia can build on her last start placing and remain hopeful that she can add a well-deserved win to her resume.
Milestone will step out over 1600m in a Benchmark 70 (Race 5 – 7:30 pm) for co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. Ideally, we would have liked to step him up to 2000m; however, with limited options currently available for the five-year-old, we have elected to start him again over the mile to maintain a sustained campaign.
With Michael Dee in the saddle, we expect him to be ridden quiet, sit where he is comfortable, and strongly hit the line.
Meltdown is well-positioned to run an improved race in this 1400m Benchmark 64 affair (Race 8 – 9:00 pm). The soft 7 conditions and heavy rain weren’t to her liking last start, and we believe that she can bounce back on top of the ground. In form jockey, Ben Allen is in the saddle and will give the consistent three-year-old every chance at overcoming barrier nine of 10.
Saturday
Gosford
Dominant last start victor My Swashbuckler steps out over 2100m at Benchmark 78 level to pursue a third career success (Race 5 – 2:05 pm). The Kris Lees-trained six-year-old continues to relish his racing and can again measure up under Jason Collett, despite jumping from barrier 10 of 11 and stepping up in class.
There was a big space to 2nd when My Swashbuckler won Race 2 at Gosford today for @Leesracing
— OTI Racing (@OTIRacing) April 25, 2021
Congratulations to all involved. 🍾 https://t.co/2apFpMks9F
Last year’s Group 3 Manion Cup winner Young Rascal returns from an extended layoff in the 2100m Listed Gosford Cup (Race 7 – 3:20 pm). The classy individual has come back a better horse this preparation and is poised to run a good race under Jason Collett.
The Chris Waller-trained Mr Satchmo also lines up alongside Young Rascal and can show vast improvement here third up, despite the wide draw. Jockey Jay Ford has been instructed to settle in a forward position and build momentum from the 600m mark, in the hope of seeing him sustain a long and strong run through the line.
Sunday
Naas (IRE)
Catena Zapata will step out over 2000m in a 3yo Handicap for trainer Henry de Bromhead. The lightly-raced colt was well held last start but over-raced early and couldn’t find cover in the run. We expect him to improve here third up at his second attempt over the extended journey.
We wish all of the connections the best of luck!