Jockey Jeff Lloyd will be instructed to push forward on Perplexity in the Listed $175,000 Linked Group Plumbing Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Jeff Lloyd will be the new rider for Perplexity, above, in the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The five year old stayer’s normal pattern is to race in or near the lead and trainer Chris Munce will be issuing those instructions again as he legs up the experienced jockey.
“I have booked Jeff Lloyd to ride him and he will make certain Perplexity is in a forward position this time,” Munce told AAP.
Munce is happy with the form of the former Sydney trained stayer, especially his last start fourth to Epingle in the Group 3 $125,000 Goldcoastwebsites.com.au Chairman’s Handicap (2200m) at Gold Coast April 25.
Perplexity was a little tardy at the start and jockey Luke Tarrant found himself near the tail of the field instead of being up on the pace.
When the pace slowed along the back straight Tarrant made a move and circled the field to sit outside the leader Hi Son but approaching the home turn he was pushed very wide and did a great job to fight his way to the line to fill fourth spot.
“The way the race was run didn’t suit him and he got caught deep,” Munce said.
Munce has no worries about stepping Perplexity up to the 2400m of the Caloundra Cup and is certain he has given him a good grounding with four runs over 2200m.
“This race has been in our mind all along so he has had a good build-up to the 2400 metres. He has had four runs at the 2200 metres in the lead-up and gone well each time,” Munce said.
“I wouldn’t say he is getting better but he is getting more confident. And don’t forget he has won up to 2500 metres at Randwick.”
Munce says that Perplexity fits right into the mould of horse that is capable of winning the Caloundra Cup and he is tough enough to run out a strong 2400m up the long telling straight at the Sunshine Coast.
“There isn’t really any trick to winning a Caloundra Cup. It is a genuine tough 2400 metres and horses which can’t run the journey right out get found out,” Munce said.
“The big long straight is uphill and it is a race for horses with the kilometres in their legs and the right attitude to racing.”
Half of the twelve horse Caloundra Cup field is under double figures odds at Ladbrokes.com.au with Perplexity marked as a $9 chance.
The Chris Waller trained Index Linked has been marked as the ruling favourite at $3.30 following his strong second in the Chairman’s Handicap with Tremec at $6, Volkhere at $6.50, Sir John Hawkwood at $7.50 and Escado at $8.
