The feature race of the day in Sydney on Saturday is the ATC Cup. Last year this race – formerly known as the Frank Underwood Cup, was held at Canterbury over 1900m with Zara Dancer victorious. In 2010 the race was won by Rabbuka when held in January, at the Rosehill circuit over 2000m.
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1. FIUMICINO –
A nine year old trained by Team Hawkes and whose last win was in the 2009 The BMW recent runs however, indicate that one more win might be still left in the old boy. Two starts back he was finished fourth, within a ½ length of Crafty Irna (third in a G2 at next start) at 100/1 before finishing third the ultra-impressive Puissance De Lune in the Ballarat Cup. Chances improve with cut out of the track.
Odds: $5.00
2. MORIARTY – C Brown (4)
Chris Waller trained galloper who kicked off this campaign with a win in a BM 75 and followed that win with successive victories in a BM 80 and BM 95 events. His two most recent starts he has finished second over 1900m and he was 1 ¼ lengths off the in-form Cantonese last week. He has had every opportunity last two and should get sweet run again.
Odds: $2.70
3. SCOUTING WIDE – (1)
He is an 8yo gelding by Zabeel who last visited the winners stall back in May 2010 when claiming the W J McKell Cup (2400m), seventeen starts back. Did all that could be expected of him first run back at under 59kgs over 1500m, and followed that up a fortnight ago by finishing last of eight behind Levi’s Choice. Should roll forward and being third up, would expect some improvement but doubt it will be enough to see him winning here.
Odds: $13.00
4. FROMELLES – B Shinn (6)
New Zealand mare that has had three starts in Australia for her trainer, Mark Sargent. Two starts back she was second to last in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup but was only getting into her work when the race was all over and then followed that up with a third, where again she settled at the tail of the field and snuck home along the fence beaten to be beaten 2 ¾ lengths behind Levi’s Choice and Moriarty. Looks a dour type and her record in NZ would indicate a wet track would increase her chances.
Odds: $7.50
5. WARD – J McDonald (2)
Lightly raced 4yo by O’reilly from the Freedman/Rogerson camp who made it three wins from nine starts when scoring comfortably at Hawkesbury in Restricted O Metro win race last start over 2000m. Despite jumping now to a Listed race, this is a race of little depth. He is showing staying promise and open to further improvement and should be afforded a sweet run from his gate.
Odds: $6.00
6. DREAMWORKER – G Schofield (3)
She has won two of her eighteen starts and halfway up the straight last start, she looked set to record her third victory but was out-stayed late by Slivovitz at Rosehill on Cup Day. If she is to be considered a live chance here, would’ve liked to have seen her win that race and coupled with the fact that it has been three weeks between runs, can’t include her among the leading chances.
Odds: $7.00
7. KING UTAH – Anthony Allen (7)
Country galloper from the Port Macquarie who won over this track and distance two starts back when accounting from Blazing Dragon, Coup Acclaim and Dreamworker at 20/1. He was then travelled north to Eagle Farm a fortnight back and probably wasn’t helped by the heavy rain that morning but still ran a credible second to noted wet tracker Rothera.
Odds: $15.00
8. WATERTIGHT – K O’Hara (5)
He chased home the in-form Cantonese two starts back before a smart ride by O’Hara with a mid-race move, saw him chalk up career win number four at Gosford a last Wednesday. Normally holds his form when he gets to this distance and does have a third (beaten ¾) behind Kinnersley this track/distance to his record. Not the roughest in the race.
Odds: $26.00
SUMMARY
Far from a vintage ATC (Frank Underwood) Cup and that’s supported by the fact that Fiumicino, who hasn’t won over three years, is rated on top. He was very good behind Crafty Irna, The Verminator and Western Symbol (who ran second to Mourayan at his previous start) in the Listed Tatt’s Club (2400m) and backed that up by getting as close as any horse has recently to Puissance De Lune in the Ballarat Cup. He won’t find any runners of that calibre in this race and should be able to handle the 59kg, five over the limit. Moriarty ($2.80) gets a sweet run from his gate but a slight query remains over him for mine when asked to take that price.
