Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes has selected his Sydney Cup runner Almoonqith as his best chance on the second day of ‘The Championships’ at Randwick on Saturday.
Almoonqith is one of the main chances in the Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Hayes and training partner Tom Dabernig will saddle up nine runners at Randwick and he is very keen on the chances of Almoonqith in the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).
“I like Almoonqith in the Sydney Cup,” Hayes said.
The European import is a winner over the 3200m when he beat The Offer in the Listed $150,000 Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown at the end of the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and Hayes said that he has specifically trained the six year old for the two miles of the Sydney Cup.
“He has been set for it right through,” Hayes said.
Almoonqith has had three runs at weight for age this campaign and Hayes said coming back to the handicap conditions of the Sydney Cup will suit him.
“The handicap conditions really suit him and I think he is very well weighted,” Hayes said.
“And I don’t think the barrier will be a problem.”
Almoonqith has drawn barrier ten in the eleven horse Sydney Cup field but Hayes is not concerned about the wide gate as he gets back in his races anyway.
Hugh Bowman will be having his first ride on the proven stayer, replacing the injured Michael Walker who has ridden him in five of his last eight starts.
Almoonqith kicked off his Autumn Carnival campaign with a ninth to Bow Creek in the Group 2 $200,000 Crown Golden Ale Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 27 followed by a tenth of ten in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
Then his last start produced a sixth of ten behind the Chris Waller trained trio of Preferment, Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 26.
Almoonqith is marked as a $10 chance for the Sydney Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au with the Waller trio fighting it out at the top of the market order for favouritism.
Who Shot Thebarman at $3.40 holds a slight advantage over Libran at $3.80 with last year’s winner Grand Marshal hot on their heels at $4.20.
Sydney Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.40 Who Shot Thebarman, $3.80 Libran, $4.20 Grand Marshal, $10 Almoonqith, $11 Cafe Society, Gallanate, $19 Destiny’s Kiss, $31 Auvray, $51 Dee I Cee, Bayanova, $81 Like A Carousel.
Lindsay Park runners on day two of ‘The Championships’
So Serene, Najmaat – Group 3 $500,000 IG Markets Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
Sacred Eye – Group 1 $1m James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (2400m)
Almoonqith – Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m)
Pasadena Girl, Risque – Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m)
Criterion, Dibayani, Rising Romance – Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
