Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary is hoping King Gutho has done enough to put his name in the hat for a Kosciuszko slot with a breakthrough metropolitan win at Canterbury.
Intent on advertising the gelding’s credentials for the $2 million feature, Cleary called on James Mcdonald to partner the six-year-old in the Vale George Altomonte Handicap (1100m) on Wednesday and Sydney’s reigning premier jockey didn’t let him down.
Although according to Cleary, it is he who did McDonald the favour.
“I spoke to him on WhatsApp the other day and I said, ‘you’re having a bit of a rough twelve months Jimmy, I’d better come and resurrect your career’,” Cleary joked.
Cleary picked out Wednesday’s assignment following King Gutho’s last-start fourth in a support race on Grafton Cup day.
Starting at $4.40, the horse settled last for McDonald but quickly found galloping room at the top of the straight to power down the outside and score a 1-3/4 length win over evergreen campaigner Lancaster Bomber ($5.50).
King Gutho explodes down the outside to win Race 3! 👑@mcacajamez @JoeJoey76 pic.twitter.com/fkkAdTdj4E
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2024
“I said after Grafton, this is the perfect race for him,” Cleary said.
“We’ve got to try to put our hand up for a Kosciuszko spot, so we’ve ticked the right boxes today.”
McDonald booted home three of the first four winners on the midweek program and was upbeat about King Gutho’s performance.
“That was solid. He ripped home really well,” McDonald said.
“Joey had him there in good form and it was good to ride a winner for him.”
Earlier on the program, Ciaron Maher unveiled a promising three-year-old in Axius ($3.30), who went one better than his debut second on the Kensington track last month with an emphatic all-the-way win in the Victor Ludorum @ Darley Handicap (1200m).
Tim Clark has ridden the colt in both appearances and believes Axium’s winning effort from an outside draw is the tip of the iceberg.
“He has obviously learned a bit from that (debut) experience and come on nicely,” Clark said.
“I wasn’t too deterred by where we drew, it gave him a bit of time to come across and control the race and then kick away and win well.
“He’s got a big action on him and I’m sure they’re just scratching the surface with him at the moment.”
