Leading trainer Adam Durrant concedes Massimo and Money Matters will have to elevate and go to another level to have a winning impact in Saturday’s Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m).
Adam Durrant has high regard for his two charges, but believes Northam Stakes (1100m) winner Cup Night is poised to add the second leg of a feature race double at Ascot.
Money Matters ran third to Cup Night in the Northam Stakes, beaten 1.5 lengths and loomed a winning chance after grabbing a slender lead in the straight.
Massimo, having the first run of his preparation, was also not far behind in the Northam Stakes after running on solidly from ninth position when finishing sixth.
Combined Money Matters and Massimo have claimed five Listed wins, but Durrant believes the gap to Cup Night in the Roma Cup could be hard to overcome.
“I’ve got a big opinion of Cup Night,” Durrant told Tabradio.
“I think he is a very smart horse and I rate him
“I think he is a proper Railway horse and a Group 1 horse if he gets the right races at the right time.
“I feel he may be too good for them
“We might just play around these next couple of runs and do our best.
“You have to be realistic sometimes and we’ll see where we end up.
“I’m happy to be wrong, but both horses might be a tad under that real sharp grade.
“But in saying that you have got to be there because sometimes things can wrong with these horses.
Meanwhile Durrant will look to extend his tally of winners at Ascot on Wednesday when Material Witness tackles the Heineken 3 Handicap (1000m).
Successful at Albany last start, Material Witness has drawn barrier one for jockey William Pike.
Tabtouch has Material Witness at $2.60, the Stephen Miller-trained Timely Outburst, undefeated in two career starts, is the $1.80 favourite.
“Very immature mentally for a four-year-old,” Durrant said.
“He really hasn’t put it together yet.
“I think he is still learning his trade and may come on with blinkers at some point.
“He’s definitely a horse with potential.
“SJ’s (Stephen Miller) horse looks really smart as well, so I think they are the two.
“They will fight out the finish on paper.”
Meanwhile Durrant said Son Son and Tri For Us are not guaranteed to start in the Happy 60th Birthday Jillian Antartis Handicap (1400m).
“I want to separate these two and will make a decision in the morning,” Durrant said.
“Only one of them will run.”
