It can only just be classified a feature race, but the only black type event on the card at Randwick this weekend, sees a field of eight old fashioned stayers line up in the $100,000.00 McKell Cup. Despite the small field, the early market is a competitive one with Motivado ($3.30) favourite with no less than four other runners, at a quote of $6.00 or shorter.
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1. PERMIT – B Shinn (6)
It wouldn’t be a black type race without a Chris Waller representative and this guy will give his trainer a legitimate chance of taking home the prize. He has ran second in both the Listed Randwick City (2200m) and Manion Cup (2400m) this prep and did a bit of work early at his last start, in the Mayor’s Cup under 59kgs, but held on gamely for fifth behind stable-mate Moriarty.
2. VATUVEI – J Parr (1)
Had had three starts back from a spell and a lot more was expected of him when, fourth up, he failed in the G2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m). Trainer Peter Moody gave him a month off and he finished off well when returning in the Mayor’s Cup a fortnight back. The winner of the G2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) last prep and capable of a better run here.
3. FIUMICINO – J Ford (4)
The soon-to-be 10yo won his sixth race start back in December of last year – the ATC Cup (2200m) but in six runs since, has been well accounted for on each occasion. Would need a heavy track to bring him into calculations.
4. MOTIVADO – C Schofield (2)
European galloper who has had two starts in Australia for his new trainer David Hayes. The first of which was over 1800m when resuming from a seven month spell, at Caulfield before he was immediately stepped up the 2500m of the Queen’s Cup at Morphettville, which he won by ¾ length, defeating Shiny Buttons. Would think he takes on slightly better stayers here but at only his third start, still open to more improvement then most.
5. SKY RAIDER – A Hyeronimus (8)
Tony McEvoy has brought this Reset gelding to Sydney, from Adelaide via Melbourne. He’s last start was a tough effort behind Thubiaan over 2800m when carrying 56.5kgs, so drops a further 2kgs here – to a similar weight he carried when fourth in the Listed Bart Cummings behind Tanby and Maluckyday last prep. Will go forward and stick and his trainer has a very good strike rate in Sydney.
6. STRIKE THE STARTS – (3)
Also entered for a race in QLD, this four year old has won one of his twenty-two starts and that stat only is enough to put a pen through him however, as he did last start, when finishing well for third behind Moriarty in the Mayor’s Cup, he can produce a run that would but a race like this, within his reach. He hasn’t been out to a distance like this since running fourth in the AJC Derby.
7. WINNING GLORY – Y Ichikawa (5)
Front running gelding who, from six starts beyond 2000m has ran one placing – and that came in July 2011. He was first up off for three months when seventh of fifteen in the Lord Mayor’s Cup last start and although fitter again, would find it hard to see him seasoned enough at this distance to hold off a couple of these.
8. COUNT ENCOSTA – S Clipperton (7)
Also entered for a race in QLD, so it is possible that six runners could face the starter here but, even if he does line up here rather than north of the border, I find it hard to include him given that it has been over three years and thirty starts since his last win.
OVERVIEW
Not a great edition of this race however, one of them will have to win so let’s see if we can find the one. Tony McEvoy has picked these races off with regular success over the past six months and I think he’ll go close again with Sky Raider ($6.00) He is a tough stayer who could roll to the front and possibly prove to hard to run down. Think I’d prefer to see Motivado again before taking the price on offer about him. Would be including the top two – Permit and Vatuvei as the next best.
