Guy Walter hasn’t completely ruled out a Doomben Cup start for Skyerush but the trainer’s immediate focus is only on Saturday’s Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup in Sydney.
Skyerush will take aim in the $100,000 event over 2000m at Rosehill, looking to add to her two stakes victories.
Skyerush was an impressive winner of the Group Two Emancipation (1600m) at Randwick last start, a performance which Walter said was a highlight of the honest mare’s career.
“She’s been an excellent mare,” Walter said of the rising seven-year-old.
“She won a number of races in a row a couple of years ago and then won a Listed Belle Of The Turf at Gosford and has run very well (for fourth) in a Group One Myer Classic.
“I think she was a deserved winner of the Emancipation Stakes last start and that kind of caps her career.”
Skyerush is still among nominations for Saturday week’s Group One Doomben Cup (2020m) in Brisbane, a race the trainer won with Defier in 2004, but he said it was unlikely she would head that way.
“It’s an option but we’re probably not going to do it. It’s unlikely,” Walter said.
“It’s still a possibility but we’re looking at Saturday’s race first.”
Blake Shinn has been aboard in five of the mare’s eight career wins including the Emancipation Stakes but he will be in Brisbane on Saturday with Rod Quinn to take over.
Quinn finished second on Skyerush in the 2011 Emancipation Stakes in his only race ride on the mare.
Walter will be chasing his third Lord Mayor’s Cup since 2005 after wins to Zingam (2005) and Twin Wing (2008).
The Warwick Farm trainer said Skyerush had continued to please since her Group Two success on April 28.
“I thought she won very well and has pulled up well. I’m very happy with her,” Walter said.
The Lord Mayor’s Cup attracted 13 nominations with the past two Group One Metropolitan Handicap winners, Herculian Prince and The Verminator, at the top of the weights with 59.5kg.
Skyerush has 57kg along with Victorian galloper Larry’s Never Late.
Along with The Verminator, premier trainer Chris Waller also has Wazn and Firebolt nominated with both runners weighted on 54.5kg, the same weight as stakes winner Crafty Irna.
