Trainer Tony McEvoy predicts that Sysmo will be at his peak for the Listed $200,000 Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup (2200m) at Ballarat on Saturday.
Sysmo, white and blue with orange cap on the inside, runs 2nd to Atacama, blue and white, blue cap, at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Sysmo was having his third run back from a spell when a head second to Atacama in the Listed $150,000 James Boag’s Premium Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and McEvoy says that the six year old is ready to step up to the 2200m at Ballarat.
“I think it’s a really good race for him and he should go to it at his top,” McEvoy told Racing Network.
McEvoy is happy with the way the gelding has pulled up and was on hand to watch him gallop at his Kildalton Park training complex in the Barossa Valley in South Australia earlier in the week.
“I took him home to the Barossa after his run in the Plate on Melbourne Cup day and he has trained on really well,” McEvoy said.
“I watched him work earlier this week and he has trained on beautifully.”
Sysmo’s form has gradually improved this campaign as McEvoy has increased his distances and after finishing a three lengths fourth first up over 1400m at Randwick on October 11 the six year old was only beaten one length when fifth in the Listed $150,000 Eastcoast Plumtec Sale Cup (1600m) at Sale on October 26.
The Ballarat Cup is shaping as a tough contest after the Ballarat Turf Club received thirty-five nominations, guaranteeing a capacity field of eighteen for the showcase Carnival feature.
The last day of the 2014 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival sees the Ballarat meeting carry metropolitan status with two Magic Millions sponsored races also on the ten race program, the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) for the two year olds and the $100,000 Magic Millions 3yo Classic (1100m) for the three year olds.
Zipping Classic runner-up Epingle is among the nominations for the Ballarat Cup and is one of Mick Kent’s three entries along with Scratchy Bottom and You Think So.
Kent has reported that Epingle has pulled up well after going down narrowly to Au Revoir in the Group 2 $350,000 Deadly Design Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown last Saturday and the Pins mare is a good chance of backing up this weekend.
“She pulled up fine and she’s had a very light spring,” Kent told Racing Network.
“I’ll have a look at the handicaps, but it’s certainly something we’re strongly considering.”
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has nominated Count Of Limonade and is hoping for a soft surface after he scratched the Irish import from the Zipping Classic last Saturday because of the firm track.
