Trainer Brett Cavanough will wait until race morning to decide whether Kosciuszko slot holder Fender takes his place in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.
Unbeaten in four starts, Fender was confirmed for a Kosciuszko berth on Wednesday, along with another undefeated stablemate in It’s Me.
While Fender was secured by slot holders from the NSW country town of Gulgong, It’s Me attracted interest from closer to home after her part-owner Bob Dailey discovered he was holding a winning ticket for the Kosciuszko ballot.
“We had a bloke on the hook ready to go and then Bob found out later in the day he had a ticket,” Cavanough said.
“He has a share in her and he picked his own horse.
“It’s great. We’ve had a runner every year, we’ve got two runners this year but we need to win it. We don’t just want to be competitors, we want to get out there and win.”
While Fender has secured a Kosciuszko spot, Cavanough is in two minds about whether to run him in Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
The four-year-old is eligible for easier races but the prospect of taking on the likes of Group One winners Funstar and Tyzone doesn’t bother the trainer.
However, he is wary of Fender’s outside draw and will delay a final decision on a start until race morning.
“His numbers stack up, he’s been going really good and it’s a progression for him, he won a solid Saturday race,” Cavanough said.
“And I didn’t think it was the strongest Theo Marks I’ve ever seen.
“If there are three or four scratchings he will more than likely go around.”
Funstar was top pick in markets on Thursday at $3.20, ahead of Special Reward ($4.20) with Fender a $21 chance.
