Trainer Tony McEvoy has several Victorian country cups on his mantelpiece and would be looking to add one from New South Wales to his collection this Sunday, when Pelicano lines up in the Goulburn Cup. The 6yo gelding is clearly the class runner of the race, having won last year’s Werribee Cup and running second in the Ballarat Cup to The Offer, and he has been weighted accordingly with 62kgs to carry – at least 4kgs more than his eleven competitors. Add to the challenge that he is first up off almost a year on the sidelines; if successful it will be one great performance from both horse and trainer. Also tackling this race first up is Court Connection, one of two runners in the race for the only local trainer represented Kurt Goldman. Goldman’s other runner is Faust, a front running track specialist who’ll give the local a strong hope of taking out their hometown feature race.

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 Goulburn Cup Field

1. PELICANO – B Shinn (2) 62kgs

Last time we saw this 6yo galloper race was when he took last December’s Listed Werribee Cup (2000m). Has been prepped for his return with a comfortable trial in Adelaide just over a week ago and although he has been of the scene for a long time and has a massive to lump, he comes from an astute stable that regularly targets these country cup with a good of success. Add to the mix a good draw and one of the country’s most in-form jockeys, and he can’t be dismissed too lightly.

2. KAYPERS – R Thompson (8) 58kgs

He wasn’t bad first up in a BM95 (1200m) when closing from the back of the field to run seventh (3 lengths) behind handy galloper You’ll Never (good again since) and was holding his ground at his only run since, the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1400m) at Hawkesbury, when fourth to Strawberry Boy. Heart Testa run third in that race and won well last Saturday. Third up last prep he ran fourth (0.6 lengths) to Mecir in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m). Doesn’t win out of turn but looks set to run a competitive race here.

3. SCORPIO QUEEN – B Avdulla (9) 55.5kgs

Worked home well at each of her first two runs back from a spell before unexpectedly, taking up the leading role in her most recent start, a BM 88 (1600m), where she finished a long neck fourth to Amovatio. Had 59kgs last start and the weight drop and a more quieter run in transit will see this 6yo mare, who ran some bold races behind the top females in leading races during the autumn, be right in contention.

4. TIMELESS PRINCE – (4) 54.5kgs

Finished strongly from worse than midfield to run a long neck second to Frespanol in a BM 80 (1500m) before finishing recording a neck third to Amovatio in a BM 88 (1600m) last start. Settled closer to the speed last start, on the leader’s (Scorpio Queen) back and was scrubbed along rounding the turn as the pace picked up. Kept closing in the run to the line and more solid speed up front here will be to his liking. Will settled back from an inside draw and the Goulburn straight isn’t a long one so his run home will have to be well timed and uninterrupted.

5. COURT CONNECTION – G Schofield (12) 54kgs

Given a good hit-out in a recent 1200m Warwick Farm trial a fortnight ago as he prepares to make his return to racing here off a six month spell. His form has been below par since winning the Canberra Cup in March of 2013 and would be hard to include the now 8yo in selections here first up.

6. PYTHAGOREAN – K McEvoy (5) 54kgs

Former imported galloper made it consecutive wins two starts back when holding off Black Revolver late to win a BM 84 (1600m) at Randwick. The Chris Waller trained runner then lined up a strong 9/2 chance in a BM 85 (2000m) but was never happy, pulling during the race and finishing a disappointing last of seven, over a dozen lengths from stable-mates Grand Marshal and Saigon Tea. Both of those horses subsequently travelled to Melbourne and performed well during the VRC Carnival. He’s had a trial since his last run to keep him up to the mark and has drawn well in five.

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7. FAUST – S Clipperton (1) 54kgs

The locally trained gelding returned from a six month spell three weeks ago with a sixth placing (3.8 lengths) behind Hera and Fine Bubbles in a restricted race over 1350m. He took up a forward position but no surprise being fresh, to see him knock up the last bit. The son of Librettist hasn’t raced since but hasn’t missed a place second up, nor in four starts at this track. From the inside gate he’ll lead and may give them plenty to run down.

8. ALPHA BEAT – J Collett (10) 54kgs

Had two trials leading into his first run back this campaign but was plain when sixth of nine (4.7 lengths) in a Randwick Open class race over 1400m before blundering at the 600m at his following and most recent start, a BM 80 (1500m) and dropping out to run last of ten, twenty lengths from the winner. The Anthony Cummings trained galloper was in good form last prep, running third to Vilanova in the G2 Autumn Classic (1800m) and winning the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m) defeating Lady Lakshmi by a head, but looks a long way off reaching that form so far this campaign.

9. CUBAN SUNDAY – Y Ichikawa (11) 54kgs

The 7yo by Benecio has had four well-spaced starts for his new trainer Peter Tiyce, since joining his stables of March of this year. He was only slightly able to improve his position on the turn when sixth (3.5 lengths) in an Open class race at Canberra two starts back, his first outing for eight weeks, and then failed to make an impression in the run home when seventh of nine in the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago, finishing 8.1 lengths behind Strawberry Boy. Step up to a mile suits and he’ll be fitter again as there were close to seven weeks between the above to runs but still has to make too much improvement to be rated a serious winner hope.

10. ARE YOU SURE – G Ryan (7) 54kgs

Took out the Coonabarabran Cup (1600m) two starts back, winning by a head with 59kgs, before heading into the big smoke and lining up as a 20/1 shot in a BM 80 over 1800m. The 7yo settled last in the field of eleven but belied his odds by finishing well to claim fourth (1.8 lengths) behind Plutorius and Perplexity. Appears to be going as well as he ever has for Mudgee trainer Cameron Crockett and jockey Greg Ryan has a good association with the horse. Ideal candidate for one at some value.

11. SMART MOOCHIE – (6) 54kgs

Has only the two wins from eighteen starts due to his racing style of getting back and charging home, meaning a lot has to go the way for the Churchill Downs gelding – case in point, his first up run at Canterbury two starts back. He had nowhere to go looking for a run through a bunched field in Canterbury BM 75 (1200m) and went through the line under a hold in seventh spot, 4.3 lengths behind Valcot. He then came right down the outside fence when fourth (1.6 lengths) behind Enormous Honour and Centre Pivot in a BM 75 (1400m). He’ll need the pace on up front and some good luck around the Goulburn track to be winning here.

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12. KAZOOM – H Poland (3) 54kgs

Came to town after taking out a Canberra BM65 (1400m) and ran seventh (3.4 lengths) in a Restricted race over 1400m. His only start since saw him take up the front running role in a BM 80 after having to do some work early from a wide gate, and the son of Pentire stuck on well, finishing fourth (1.5 lengths) behind Church Boy. Will push forward from a good draw and is improving with each run however, not at a rate that would see him winning here.

Goulburn Cup 2014 Odds/Results

RACE OVERVIEW.

Faust will push forward here, and can run cheeky race, with Kazoom and Pythagorean keeping him company. Falling in behind them will be Timeless Prince, who is going well and the weight relief will be welcomed but is still yet to win over a mile from three starts, and Kaypers, who with back-makers Are You Sure and Smart Moochie drawn directly inside of him, should be able to find a nice spot not too far off the pace. He’s always threatened to win a race like this and gets his chance to do so here. He’s been Listed place twice and has mentioned above, was a neck away in a G3 race last prep. Scorpio Queen was tough last start leading under a big weight and with 55.5kgs and a cushier run, should be right in the mix here too.

1. KAYPERS
2. SCORPIO QUEEN
3. FAUST
4. TIMELESS PRINCE

News:

Are You Sure will run in the Goulburn Cup despite trainer Cameron Crockett conceding the bush feature looks a tougher race than a Randwick option.

And it’s not just the extra $15,000 prize money swaying the Mudgee trainer towards Goulburn on Sunday.

Crockett says the bigger expanses of the country track will suit Are You Sure better than the Kensington circuit.

A lighter handicap will also help Are You Sure.

“At Kensington it’s a much tighter track and it tends to favour front-runners,” he said.

“And there seems to be a bit of speed at Goulburn which will also suit.”

A last-start fourth over 1800m at Randwick, Are You Sure will drop in trip for Sunday’s 1600-metre race.

But Crockett pointed to his previous effort at Coonabarabran when he ran a record time over the Goulburn Cup trip.

“I know it’s only Coonabarabran, but he still smashed the track record,” Crockett said.

Star country jockey Greg Ryan, who has ridden Are You Sure to seven of his nine wins, will partner the horse at Goulburn.

Scone trainer Greg Bennett, the man who broke in three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, has never previously ventured to Goulburn.

But come Sunday the accomplished horseman hopes it will be first time lucky when he saddles up Kaypers in the Cup.

“The big, open spaces at the track will suit my horse and we’re going down there fit and healthy and ready for the mile,” Bennett said.

Kaypers comes into the feature country cup with two solid runs under his belt, Bennett believing the nine-time winning seven-year-old is ready to peak.

“He probably should have won more races than he has. He’s run a lot of places in some nice races,” Bennett said.

“His two runs have been solid. He had no luck at Hawkesbury last start yet wasn’t beaten far.”