With the withdrawal of Ibicenco, who won Geelong Cup Wednesday and Forgotten Voice, who was the unplaced favourite in the same race, we are left with nine runners for this year’s Group 2 Drake International (Moonee Valley Cup). Sneak A Peek is the easing favourite ($3.20 – $3.50) whilst track specialist, Mourinho has firmed on the second line of betting ($5.00 – $4.60) Include Gotta Take Care and Precedence who are both $5.00 quotes, along with Shoreham at $6.00 and you’ve got a competitive race.
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Drake International Cup Form Guide
1. TANBY – S Arnold (11)
The 7yo by Galileo has struggled to reproduce his best form in four stats this preparation. Two starts ago, in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m) – the race he won as 5/2 favourite twelve months earlier, he ran a disappointing ninth of thirteen before finishing last in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m) last fortnight behind stable-mate Sea Moon. Record at this distance reads well but just doesn’t appear to be going well enough this time in.
2. SNEAK A PEEK – L Nolen (7)
Given his close up fourth to Moriarty in the G2 Hill Stakes (2000m) and subsequent third placing in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap behind Seville (beaten ¾ length), it appears this former Italian galloper his on the verge of recording his first Australian win. He finds a very winnable race here and whilst he hasn’t been beyond 2400m in his nineteen start career, he stuck on very well last start. Think they’ll need to go forward on him here because he does rise 2.5kgs on last start and he is dour. He will not be able to give them a margin on the turn and run them down.
3. TREMEC – M Walker (2)
A Zabeel gelding that showed plenty of staying potential earlier in the year by rounding his last preparation with victory in the G2 Chariman’s Quality (2600m), his sixth win from fifteen starts until then. Since his return though, the Patinack Farm representative has been a shadow of his former self and in four starts, has finished last on three occasions and at his most recent start, third to last in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m). Going too poorly for consideration here.
4. FORGOTTEN VOICE – SCRATCHED
5. PRECENDENCE – C Williams (3)
Winner of this race in 2010 and ran fourth in last year’s edition, the Bart Cummings trained galloper is back for another shot. Despite running thirteen in a field of sixteen first up in Open class (1400m) race at Caulfield, the Zabeel 8yo was good late and as expected, improved when next stepping out over the more suitable distance of Benella Cup (2046m) where he hit the line well again, running second to Flying Hussler. He carried 59kgs at Benalla and drops to 56kgs here and, whilst his best performance normally come at his fourth and fifth run in, fancy the old boy is going ok this preparation. Has won four from eight on this track.
6. MOURINHO – C Newitt (4)
As he often does, he was leading the field in the G3 JRA Cup (2040m) two starts ago at this track when he and Newitt caught their opponents napping and established a winning break around the turn. He won by a long neck over Gris Caro, The Great Snowman and Mr Moet. He then sat on the speed and stuck on tenaciously when third (beaten 2 ¼ lengths) behind the impressive Pakal in the Cranbourne Cup. Drawn to go forward and would expect him to take up the running. He also has a nice weight drop from last start of 3kgs. Combined with his affection for this track, six starts for three wins, he’ll be in this for a long way.
7. IBICENCO – SCRATCHED
8. RAEBURN – J McDonald (1)
It took almost three years and twenty-four starts but this 9yo gelding by Danehill Dancer finally recorded his ninth career last start, when scoring by a neck at Doomben in Open company over 2200m. It would’ve served as a great relief for his trainer Bruce Hill but not as an indication that he his now ready to contest a Group 2 race!
9. GOTTA TAKE CARE – (5)
Hurdles or flat racing, it doesn’t seem to matter to this 9yo by Rubiton this year, as he’s won both and seems to be in the form of his live. Two and three starts back, he won a BM 95 and Open class race at this track over this distance before at his most recent start, running a head third to Araldo and Sea Moon in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington. Sea Moon came out the following week to claim the G2 Herbert Power (2400m). Can’t knock that effort or this horse’s form. From a good gate, he’ll make his presence felt.
10. MUJADALE – S Baster (10)
Lightly raced six year old who was afforded a lovely run last start behind the leader in a BM 84 at Caulfield (2400m). He stayed on this inside and despite being headed by Junoob, fought back to record a ¾ length win. Things all fell into place for last start whereas here, where he steps up significantly in grade and has drawn the widest gate, things probably will not.
11. SHOREHAM – C Symons (8)
Kicked off this campaign four starts ago with a surprise win in the Listed Sofitel Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and his three subsequent runs, whilst he hasn’t filled a place, have been good enough to see him considered a $5.50 chance here. He finished fourth and within two lengths of Bass Strait two starts back before not having much luck in the run when contesting the Listed Cranbourne Cup. He should’ve finished closer to the winner Pakal than the 5 ¾ lengths that he did and the form from and around that race, has been strong.
RACE OVERVIEW
Would like to see Sneak a Peek ridden forward from his wide gate and keep tabs on the likely leader Mourinho. Sneak A Peek as been just off the best in some smart staying races and this race, his fifth run this time in, looks ideal for him. Can’t leave out Gotta Take Care who, from barrier five, should be in a lovely position throughout. With his record over the hurdles, he won’t be shy to force the issue well out from home. Precedence the best of the closers. He’ll be hoping for a genuine speed up front and seems to save his best for this track.
- GOTTA TAKE CARE
- SNEAK A PEEK
- MOURINHO
- PRECENDENCE
