A start in the 2019 Brisbane Cup is looming for The Candy Man after he stretched his winning sequence to seven with his victory in the Group 3 $140,000 Eva Air Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm today.

Haripour, above, finihsed second to The Candy Man in the Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Candy Man had to overcome several operations in the early days of his career but is working towards a huge pay day if he can win the Group 2 $400,000 Lexus Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.

“At one stage we thought he might be finished completely,” winning trainer Barry Baldwin said.

“Even after he had the operation he hurt a hind leg and he had a series of things go wrong with him but to everybody’s credit we stuck to our guns.”

“He just keeps on improving. He has to step up all of the time but at the moment he might be Jack and the Bean Stalk, he might go right to the top.”

“It was only a Group 3 but the Brisbane Cup will be his next go. He can handle wet tracks so it doesn’t matter if it is wet.”

Jockey Michael Cahill took full advantage of the inside barrier and settled The Candy Man on the fence in fifth and sixth position before setting out to run down the leaders in the straight.

The Candy Man ($5.50) didn’t have to go around a horse and Cahill even let him coast to the line to record a neck win over Haripour ($7.50) who made a heap of ground from the back.

Ron Stewart set a solid pace out in front on Igraine ($8.50) and the Robert Priscott trained mare battled on for third ahead of the $4.80 favourite Luvaluva.