The City Tattersall’s Club Cup may have slipped through the fingers of emerging stayer Travolta, but he gets another chance to press his Metropolitan claims in Friday’s Newcastle Gold Cup.
Travolta was sent out odds-on last start but was undone by a superb front-running ride from James McDonald aboard Changingoftheguard, who turned the 2400-metre contest into a true test of stamina. Despite sticking on gamely, Travolta could not reel in the leader.
Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth believes that experience will stand the five-year-old in good stead heading into the 2300-metre feature.
“It just got away from him a little bit, which was unfortunate because it was a race he could have won,” Duckworth said.
“But we won’t worry about spilt milk. It’s a small field but it looks a competitive race. The 2300 will be no issue and hopefully he can get himself right up the order in terms of getting into the Metropolitan.”
Waller boasts an imposing Newcastle Cup record, having won six of the past 10 runnings, and he will again be strongly represented with four starters. Travolta is rated a $3.40 second favourite behind stablemate Soul Of Spain, who heads the market at $2.15.
Soul Of Spain has earned his opportunity with a pair of dominant Queensland wins. While Friday’s assignment marks a significant rise in grade, the gelding has impressed the stable with his athleticism and potential.
“This is going to be much harder stepping up to Group racing but he’s a beautiful style of horse,” Duckworth said.
“He’s got a good action. He is a very clean winded horse and he covers the ground well. He’s one where we don’t really know where the ceiling is.”
As for which stable runner holds the edge?
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Duckworth said.
“They’re both highly progressive, they’ve both done everything we’ve put in front of them and it’s just going to be a case of who is better on the day.”
The Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) headlines a strong program that also features the Cameron Handicap (1500m), with Swiftfalcon installed as a $4 favourite, and the Tibbie Stakes (1400m), where It’s A Knockout is the headline act.
Punters keen to bet on Travolta or Soul Of Spain in the Newcastle Gold Cup can access markets through Australia’s leading betting sites.
