Trainers Mike Moroney and Ben Ahrens have stuck with their instincts which results in Tinseltown and his Caloundra Cup conqueror Spechenka dodging a return clash in the Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.
Moroney is likely to back up Tinseltown in Saturday’s Queensland Cup while Ahrens decided against accepting with Spechenka in the 3200-metre Listed feature in favour of next week’s Grafton Cup.
The Queensland Cup was pencilled in for both stayers several weeks ago but a series of setbacks put Spechenka behind time in his preparation for the race.
Moroney always planned to start Tinseltown but had some reservations after the seven-year-old could manage only third to Spechenka in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) last week.
“At this stage I’ve accepted with him and he’ll more than likely back up,” Moroney said.
“He seems okay after his Caloundra Cup run but I was a bit disappointed with him.
“He had to make up ground quickly but then seemed to get the wobbles which is not like him.
“I thought he had to chase from a fair way out.”
Tinseltown will carry topweight of 58 kilograms in the Queensland Cup, the same weight he carried in last year’s race when the gelding finished fifth to Solid Billing.
Tinseltown’s preparation for this year’s Queensland Cup is similar to last year when he came off starts in the Group Three Premier’s Cup, Group Two Brisbane Cup and Caloundra Cup.
Moroney is more concerned with Tinseltown’s weight than his Queensland Cup opposition which is a considerable step down in class from his earlier winter carnival assignments.
“The biggest thing against him is his weight and I think that’s why he got the wobbles with 57 kilos at Caloundra,” Moroney said.
Ahrens gave serious thought to backing up Spechenka after he saw the quality of the Queensland Cup field.
“He’s pulled up okay but I was only going to start him in the Queensland Cup if he was jumping out of his skin,” Ahrens said.
“He’s fine and there’s no issues with him this time.
“The field doesn’t look overly strong and it was tempting to run him but I’m sticking with my original plan for the Grafton Cup even though it will be a lot harder race.”
Spechenka emerged as Queensland’s staying discovery last year when he won three straight in the metropolitan area before heading to Sydney to claim the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) at Randwick in December.
The Group Two Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm was to be the five-year-old’s mission for the winter before a series of setbacks forced him to miss the 2400-metre feature.
AAP TURF
