Gai Waterhouse and Nash Rawiller held a lengthy post-race Newcastle Cup chat in the parade ring after Glencadam Gold won Wednesday’s feature to decide his immediate future.
Waterhouse emerged to reveal the imported stayer, unbeaten in three Australian starts, would run in the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick on October 6 en route to the Caulfield Cup.
Waterhouse, who collected a fifth Newcastle Cup courtesy of the favourite’s win, has a dilemma.
The Tulloch Lodge stable’s recent Wyong Gold Cup winner Julienas is also heading south for the Cups in Melbourne.
“They won’t run against each other,” Waterhouse said.
“I’ll probably keep him (Glencadam Gold) for the Metropolitan and take Julienas to Melbourne after the Colin Stephen at Randwick.
“It is nice to have the options.”
Glencadam Gold has only 50kg in the Caulfield Cup and sits 67th in the elimination order for the first leg of the famed cups double.
Racing Victoria will announce any weight penalty for the victory on Monday. Last year’s Newcastle Gold Cup winner Green Moon received a weight increase and went on to finish second in the Caulfield Cup.
“Awesome,” was how Rawiller described the all the way of Glencadam Gold in the Newcastle staying test.
“He has done a good job. He is enjoying getting to a trip.”
Rawiller said the gelding “bowled along early” and received a couple of leisurely furlongs until French Gift circled the field passing the 900m and attacked Glencadam Gold up front.
“I thought it was a genuine staying test,” Rawiller said.
“He feels like he has got a couple lengths up his sleeve and I was soft on him today.”
Waterhouse thanked husband Robbie for finding Glencadam Gold and Julienas in the UK along with two other horses that are now housed in Australia.
“He (Glencadam Gold) is so exciting,” Waterhouse said.
“So big and strong. I love the way he bowls along in front, he loves to gallop.
“They have come home in 34.7seconds, an outstanding stayer.”
Glencadam Gold had 1-1/4 lengths to spare over Peal Of Bells, prepared by Gwenda Markwell who won yesterday’s Cameron Handicap with Rolling Pin.
“He is improving and hopefully he’ll go to the Metrop,” Markwell said of Peal Of Bells.
“The track has been a bit biased up here, it has been hard to come from back and win.”
Gazza Guru, who was beaten by Julienas in the Wyong Cup, was a long neck away in third place having finished in that position in last year’s Newcastle Cup.
Waterhouse won her first Newcastle Cup in 1997 with Emerald Cut. Her other winners were Agincourt Express (2001), Bianca (2008) and Stratofortress (2010).
“This horse (Glencadam Gold) has done a great job for us,” Waterhouse said.
“He has come from a mid-week win in town to a Group Three Cup win and this is one of the best Cup races we have.”
