Trainer John O’Shea is giving Tally a good chance at good odds to win the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Tally, above, goes around at double figure odds in the Australian Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Tally is marked as a $17 chance for the Australian Cup at Labrokes.com.au but the booking of Hong Kong’s Magic Man Joao Moreira is certain to boost the chances of the Street Cry four year old.
Tally has had two runs back from a spell for a third I the Group 3 $150,000 The Resimax TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 11 followed by a seventh to Australian Cup rival Stratum Star in the Group 2 $200,000 Crown Lager Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25 and O‘Shea has timed his preparation to peak on Australian Cup Day.
“He’s been set for this race – third up at 10 furlongs is ideal for him,” O’Shea said.
“He’s run third at Group One level behind Hartnell, so he’s more than capable at this grade and he’s coming to a nice peak.”
Tally has raced at a similar distance on three occasions and as well as winning over 2040m when he took out the Group 2 $200,000 William Hill Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley during the 2016 Melbourne Autumn Carnival was also able to run third to stablemate Hartnell in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington in the Spring.
O’Shea can see the booking of Moreira as a real bonus and is hoping he will be able to use some of his magic to get Tally home.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the race pans out,“ O’Shea said
“If it’s a normal Australian Cup with no speed, he’ll take a forward position with Joao Moreira on his back and I think he can be competitive.”
Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Jameka has been installed the $4.20 favourite for the Australian Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of the Darren Weir trained stablemates Humidor at $4.40 and Stratum Star at $6.50.
