The Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) in October looks to be the ideal spring target for trainer Dan Morton’s quality stayer, Another Chino.
Morton won the Kalgoorlie Cup with Staffords Lad in 2022 and believes Another Chino has the qualities to give him a second victory in three years.
Another Chino has won five races with three of those wins in Listed races: the Roberts Stakes (1800m), the Melvista Stakes (2200m) and the Luckygray Stakes (1800m).
After collecting the Melvista Stakes Another Chino ran second to eastern states raider Awesome John in the Group 2 WA Derby (2400m).
Morton’s focus turned to the Kalgoorlie Cup after Another Chino ran a top second to speedy sprinter Tycoon Harry in a 1000m Belmont trial on Monday.
In his first official hit out since the Towton Cup (2200m) at Ascot last December, Another Chino settled last in his slowly run heat and finished strongly.
Morton was delighted with the trial.
“Yeah, loved it.” Morton told the Races WA.
“I liked what we saw.
“He’s maturing nice and is still a raw, big animal.
“We’ve earmarked the Kalgoorlie Cup for him and that’s where we’re heading.
“We’re a few weeks off his first assignment and we might give him another trial.
“He’s a big athlete and doesn’t need a whole lot of work necessarily.
“He’s a proper stayer, so anything staying wise he should be competitive.”
Meanwhile Morton says She’s Fit is closing in on a return to racing for new trainers, the Hayes brothers, in Melbourne.
The classy mare banked feature wins for Morton in the G3 WA Oaks (2400m) and Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) at Ascot before finishing runner-up to Affaire A Survive in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide.
But, in a bitter blow that left Morton devastated, She’s Fit suffered a tendon injury while campaigning in Melbourne where she had the one start for a sixth in a 1600m handicap at Moonee Valley last December.
“She’s still in rehab in Melbourne, but will go to the Hayes boys,” Morton said.
“I think they are going to aim her racing in the spring, but won’t raise the bar too high.
“She’s the real deal if she stands up, in my mind she’s a very, very good stayer.”
Morton also confirmed Real Danger had been retired.
The five-year-old mare claimed Listed wins in the Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) and Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) under Morton’s tenure.
