A wide barrier is the biggest concern for trainer Peter Snowden with Yulalona in Thursday’s Listed Gosford Gold Cup, but the trainer still expects the stayer to make his presence felt.
Yulalona heads into the $125,000 provincial feature over 2100m on the back of a strong Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) win at Rosehill on Boxing Day.
Snowden is pleased with the four-year-old’s condition and just hopes the gelding can get some luck in running from barrier 11.
“He’s coming back a bit in distance and the make up of the race suggests to me it’s going to be a very fast-run race,” Snowden said.
“That probably won’t be a bad thing for him. He needs luck from the draw but the horse is well in himself.”
The Summer Cup winner is on the second line of TAB Sportsbet betting at $7 with Tatt’s Cup winner Straight Albert and Winning Glory equal favourites at $4.20.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained King Lionheart is also at $7 while Wazn has firmed from $11 to also be at $7.
Yulalona added the Summer Cup to his stakes win last season in the Dulcify Quality and Snowden believes the best is still ahead of the young stayer.
“He’s probably just a smidgin below top class but he’s a bit above the normal Saturday class which puts him in a bracket where you have to place him properly,” Snowden said.
“He’s an improving type of horse and I think next time through and the time after is where we’ll see the best of him.
“He’s still learning his trade and I’m learning a bit more about him.
“The one thing about him is that he’s tough and he can stay so there’s always a place for horses that can do that.”
Snowden expects Yulalona to settle just off the pace in Thursday’s feature because of the expected strong speed up front.
“He needs to get the right run but he’s very genuine,” Snowden said.
“No doubt he’ll be in the finish somewhere.”
The Gosford Cup meeting is a twilight fixture with the main race to be run at 6.10pm (AEDT).
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