SYDNEY CUP
3200m, $2 million, handicap
HISTORY
* Sydney’s premier staying event first run in 1866 when won by Yattendon
* Honour roll includes: The Barb (1868-69), Carbine (1889-90), Wakeful (1902), Eurythmic (1921), Rogilla (1933), Sailor’s Guide (1956), Sharply (1961), Galilee (1967), Reckless (1977), Double Century (1979), Kingston Town (1980), Our Paddy Boy (1981), Tie The Knot (1998-99) and Makybe Diva (2004)
TALKING POINTS
* Chris Waller trained the quinella in 2015 when Grand Marshal tipped out Who Shot Thebarman
* Both stayers are well favoured again, but it is their stablemate Libran who bookie rate as the horse to beat
* Leading owner Lloyd Williams has Gallante in the race, almost three decades after he won it with Major Drive. Mourayan (2013) gave him more recent success and Gallante will appreciate a rain-affected track
* Lindsay Park’s Amoonqith is the most recent 3200m winner in the race, having won the Group Three Sandown Cup and the end of last year’s Melbourne spring carnival
KEY COMMENTS
“I’ve always had an opinion of this horse. He ran fourth in a big handicap at Royal Ascot but no-one wanted shares in him” – UK syndicator Harry Herbert on Libran
“He’s really deserved of Group One race in Australia and I hope Saturday will be the day for the horse and all the owners” – Blake Shinn on Who Shot Thebarman
