Patinack Farm trainer John Thompson is expected to cull his Queen’s Cup numbers as he prepares to spread his stayers between Brisbane and Grafton.
Thompson is targeting the $150,000 Queen’s Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday as well as next week’s Grafton Cup.
He has four nominations for the Queen’s Cup – Count Encosta, Saint Encosta, Shamardashing and late entry Shadowofexcellence.
But it might be left to Count Encosta to carry the Patinack flag in one of the few 3200m races run on an Australian metropolitan track.
“After speaking to John, Shamardashing and Saint Encosta are more likely to be saved for Grafton Cup,” Patinack farm racing manager Robyn Hartney said.
“That probably just leaves us with Count Encosta as our runner in the two-mile race although we nominated Shadowofexcellence when entries were extended.”
From a 3200m angle, Shadowofexcellence would create some Queen’s Cup interest if he runs.
The four-year-old is a three-quarter brother to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva but he hasn’t come remotely close to making the same impression as his famous older sibling.
A $1.2 million Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Shadowofexcellence won an 1850m Newcastle maiden when trained by John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne.
He has been placed in five of six starts since his transfer to Thompson but his racetrack earnings are a modest $50,630.
The gelding found winning form at Toowoomba last month but he couldn’t run on from midfield when fifth to another Queen’s Cup entry White City at Rockhampton.
The Queen’s Cup will be one of two stakes races at Eagle Farm which will close out the Queensland winter carnival.
Nominations also include the Mike Moroney-trained Maythehorsebemagic, Chairman’s Handicap winner Hume, Tatt’s Cup runner-up Booming and the Sydney-trained Roi D’Jeu.
Entries for the Listed Ascot Handicap are headed by last year’s Doncaster Mile placegetter Bold Glance and Gerald Ryan’s accomplished sprinter Adnocon.
