New Sydney Cup favourite The Offer has been penalised 1kg for the 3200m Randwick feature after winning the Group 3 Ambassador Travel N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Offer is penalised 1kg for the Sydney Cup after winning the NE Manion Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Offer was having his third run this campaign when he scored a runaway win at Rosehill and the Irish import is now $5 favourite for the Group 1 $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 19.
Racing New South Wales verified the 1kg penalty that will see The Offer now carry 53kgs as well as his Benchmark rating being increased from 95 to 103.
Jockey Tommy Berry scored an emotional win on the Gai Waterhouse trained stayer and pumped the air with his fist as he past the post as a salute to his dangerously ill twin brother Nathan who is lying in a coma in hospital in Singapore.
Berry had The Offer travelling in third sport behind the leaders Opinion and Tremec and after he eased the gelding out three wide on the home turn, The Offer ($2.50) showed his liking for the heavy track and ran away to score an easy win over Opinion ($2.40 favourite) with Jim Cassidy who tried to lead all of the way and Tremec ($21) who fought on for third in the wet conditions.
The 3200m of the Sydney Cup won’t be a problem for The Offer according to Berry and he is certain Waterhouse will have the Montjeu gelding fit and ready to perform on the second day of ‘The Championships’
“He was very impressive, he worried me a bit, he reminds me like Designs On Rome, the horse I ride in Hong Kong, he doesn’t travel very well but when I pulled him out at the 600m and within 50m I had the race won beyond doubt,” Berry said after the win..
“Gai knows this horse performs well third-up, she said to me he wouldn’t get beat, he is a top stayer on the rise and the Sydney Cup is not out of his reach.”
Group 1 Ranvet Stakes winner Silent Achiever is the $6 second favourite for the Sydney Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Victorian stayer Sertorius at $7 and Irish import Voleuse De Coeurs at $8 while the Chris Waller trained Opinion is rated a $11 chance.
