Value will be the order of the
day when punters tackle next Monday afternoon?s Central Goldfields Shire
Maryborough Pacing Cup.
In what looks an outstanding
contest, the barrier draw and handicaps have ensured every runner boasts a
winning chance in the $20,000 feature.
Multiple country cups winner
Wally Walton (pictured) is the class factor, but doubts linger after his
abject failure in last Sunday?s Group 1 Kilmore Cup.
Whilst the Maryborough Cup represents a drop in class for
the popular pacer, he must overcome the 25 metre backmark, 11 talented rivals
and a fitness query to capture the 2690 metre event.
Two starts back he started from a
30 handicap in the Nyah Cup and failed by a short-half-head to beat all bar
veteran mare Jilliby Magic home.
Interestingly, seven of the first
nine placegetters from that opening country cup of the season will renew
acquaintances at Maryborough on Monday.
Remarkable eight-year-old Jilliby
Magic will line up in her 19th country cup with connections hoping
to go one better than her second placing in last year?s Maryborough Cup.
Despite her impending retirement
to the breeding barn, the Peter Craven-trained mare is racing in sparkling
fashion and along with Wally Walton is one of only two horses backing up from
the Kilmore Cup.
Handicapped on 10 metres, she
meets Wally Walton 15 metres worse off for her Nyah triumph, although it?s
worth noting she comfortably accounted for him off level marks at Kilmore.
Classy Kilmore mare Her Sparky
Self is the only other handicapped runner off 10 metres and connections are
hoping to erase the disappointment of missing a start in their hometown cup
with victory at Maryborough.
In fact, the week off may prove a
blessing in disguise for Her Sparky Self who trialled brilliantly at Kilmore on
Tuesday afternoon and will be the fresh horse on the scene.
A winner at three of her last six
starts, all at Moonee Valley, the Wayne Potter-trained mare handles the
standing start conditions and will be suited on the spacious 1000 metre circuit
with her electrifying finishing sprint.
Delacombe trainer Peter Tonkin
will launch a two-pronged Cup assault with Grants Dream (barrier five) and
Manwarra Maker (barrier eight) engaged.
Manwarra Maker joins Jilliby
Magic as the only horses returning from the 2002 edition and Tonkin is hopeful
lady luck will shine on Monday after a luckless passage in last year?s Cup.
Third-up from a spell he?s
nearing peak fitness, but the popular trainer may need to say a few prayers
after the horse drew awkwardly inside the second row of front markers.
Grants Dream is one of three
horses, along with Echuca Cup winner Seelster Score (barrier three) and
Hamilton Cup winner Earlsplace Ego (barrier six), that will explode from the
tapes in search of the early lead.
All three are brilliant standing
start beginners and whoever lobs in front will give their backers a terrific
sight.
Earlsplace Ego, a recent claiming
acquisition by the Tony Xiriha stable, is racing in career best form and may
just have the early toe to cross.
He caught the eye at Kilmore last
Sunday charging home in brilliant time from last to finish fifth in the much
stronger Popular Alm Sprint.
Back to the more favourable
standing start conditions, he makes terrific each way appeal.
Michael Hughes will make the long
trip from Warragul confident of a forward showing from his emerging star Folsom
Blues (barrier six).
Folsom Blues finished a narrow
fourth in the Nyah Cup last start and his second to Kilmore Cup runner-up
Franco Heir the start prior brings him right into calculations.
Six-time Australian premiership
winning reinsman Chris Alford will pilot Folsom Blues in search of his third
Maryborough Cup after back-to-back triumphs in 1995 & 1996.
Gawler Cup (SA) winner In The
Queue (barrier 10) brings outstanding form into battle and looms as the
?smokey?.
A last start third behind
champion mares Sassy Sarah and Nolarama, the Western Districts pacer will
primed to showcase his renowned staying talents fifth-up from a spell.
Adding intrigue to the contest is
the country cup debut of regally-bred five-year-old Braeside Seel Star (barrier
four).
The least experienced runner in
the field with just 30 starts to his name, the younger brother of New Zealand
Cup winner Iraklis showed his class with a win in the prestigious Melton Plate
two starts back.
Rounding out the line-up is the
Mildura visitors Dreams To Reality (barrier two) and Sonny Fella (barrier
nine), both of whom excel under standing start conditions.
The $20,000 Central Goldfields
Shire Maryborough Pacing Cup will be run at 5.02pm next Monday.
