Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb is on the lookout for a new rider for his stayer Annus Mirabilis in the rescheduled Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Annus Mirabilis, above, is set to take hiss place in the rescheduled Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Katelyn Mallyon took the ride on the Annus Mirabilis in the first running of the Sydney Cup that was declared a no race mid-race when two runners. Almoonqith and Who Shot Thebarman fell just after passing the winning post on the first occasion.
Webb is happy with the way Annus Mirabilis has come through the no-race and will send the Montjeu six year old around again in the Sydney Cup this weekend but will need a rider with Mallyon deciding to take mounts at Caulfield this Saturday.
“His work has been good,” Webb told AAP.
“He’s come back good enough that he will be going to Sydney.”
Annus Mirabilis showed his ability to handle the 3200m of the Sydney Cup with a decisive win over the same distance in the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on March 13.
At his next start Annus Mirabilis failed to beat a runner home when thirteenth to Tally in the Listed $300,000 Ladbrokes Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington on March 25 but Webb is happy to dismiss the run.
“The race was run on a rock-hard track which didn’t suit and he was also coming back in trip,” Webb said.
“Plus the race was run not how we’d like it.
“Nothing went right with him that day.”
The Irish import was brought to Australia by the Lloyd Williams Team and eventually found himself in Webb’s stable as a potential jumper but has definitely earned his keep on the flat.
Annus Mirabilis was sent out as one of the roughies at $31 for the original Sydney Cup on day two of ‘The Championships’ and has been marked as one of the outsiders of rescheduled Sydney Cup field again at $26 in early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Darren Weir trained Big Duke will again be the favourite for the Sydney Cup and currently sits at the top of the market order at $3.20 ahead of the English visitors Penglai Pavilion at $5 and stablemate Polarisation at $7.
Early market order for the Sydney Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Big Duke, $5 Penglai Pavilion, $7 Polarisation, $9 Lasqueti Spirit, $11 Tally, $12 Chance To Dance, $13 Who Shot Thebarman, $17 Libran, $21 Boom Time, $26 Annus Mirabilis, Kinema, Rock On, $41 Harlem, $51 Self Sense, $101 Mister Impatience, Pentathlon.
