Trainer John Morrisey is gambling that his instincts are right as he sends Teary Eyed into his last run this campaign in the Listed Caloundra Cup on Saturday.
So far this preparation Teary Eyed has started 11 times for only one win in a 2200-metre Class Six at Eagle Farm in April, and Morrisey is hoping the gelding hasn’t trained off.
Morrisey goes into Saturday’s 2400-metre $200,000 feature full of confidence with the six-year-old following his eye-catching performance when fourth to Victorian Gold In Dubai in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) last start.
His effort mirrored the result of last year’s Ipswich Cup when Teary Eyed was fourth to Our Lukas while lining up for the 10th start of his 2010 winter campaign.
“He’s been in work a long time but it doesn’t really worry me that much,” Morrisey said.
“He came into work in October last year and this will more than likely be his last start before he goes for a spell.
“The Ipswich Cup was his first run for three weeks and he was a bit lethargic at the start and didn’t want to go early.
“He had to come from a long way back and set himself an impossible task.”
Morrisey saddled up his first Caloundra Cup runner last year when Teary Eyed finished third to Sydney stayer Ironstein and Kiwi Tinseltown.
Ironstein won’t be there to defend the Caloundra Cup crown he claimed last year after trainer Gerald Ryan decided not to accept with the five-year-old following his Group Three Tattersall’s Cup victory at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Morrisey believes Teary Eyed, who drew the outside barrier 14, has been unlucky several times this campaign due to jockey error but has kept faith with Stradbroke Handicap-winning rider Jason Taylor who partnered the son of Street Cry in the Ipswich Cup.
“Jason rode him well in the Ipswich Cup but he’s been a very unlucky horse a few times this prep,” Morrisey said.
“Caloundra is a big track and I don’t want to see him coming wide on the home turn.
“I’d rather Jason allow him to get back as normal and then just ride him for luck until he hits the straight.”
Morrisey thought Teary Eyed was going to win last year’s Caloundra Cup before he died on his run.
“He had to go a bit early in last year’s race but he still looked like winning at the 200 metres before his run died out,” he said
Morrisey has no plans to follow last year’s path by sending Teary Eyed interstate for the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 14.
The Grafton Cup ended Teary Eyed’s winter campaign last year when he finished in front of only one runner in the race won by Twin Wing.
“I’d prefer not to take him away for the Grafton Cup and he’ll go for a break and come back for another go at these races next year,” Morrisey said.
AAP TURF
