Sydney Cup-bound Bid Spotter claimed the second stakes victory of his preparation when he took advantage of a good run in transit to win the Manion Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Graeme Rogerson-trained gelding’s driving win over imported stayer Above Average in the 2400m Listed event came on the back of a Tasmanian trip which netted success in the Group Three Hobart Cup (2200m).
Between his two victories was a disappointing display in the Launceston Cup (2400m), but after he bounced back to winning form assistant trainer Roger Elliott declared the Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 23 as the gelding’s main mission.
“The Sydney Cup is his goal, for sure,” Elliott said.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd drifted back from a wide barrier and settled worse than midfield on Bid Spotter ($31), with the gelding doing no work during the run.
Rodd was able to continue to improve from the 1200-metre mark until the turn and when an inside run presented itself from the top of the straight Bid Spotter let down strongly.
In a driving finish the son of Redoute’s Choice got the better of Above Average ($5.50) by a short head with three lengths back to Stand To Gain ($51) in third place.
“He’s good at the distance and had the softest run of any horse in the race,” Rodd said.
“I didn’t have to go for him until the 400-metre mark which is a bit unusual in a staying race.
“I was able to creep up from being 10 lengths off at the 1200 metres to being about two lengths off at the 600 metres without spending a penny.”
Trainer Lee Freedman said Above Average, who looked the likely winner until Bid Spotter emerged on his inside, might not run again until the Sydney Cup.
“I thought it was a good staying performance, he might have just lost sight of that horse on the inside and has gone down in a driving finish,” Freedman said.
“He has been set for the Sydney Cup and he might not run again before then. But he’ll run the trip easily.”
AAP TURF
