Brad Rawiller has continued his recent domination of the Ballarat Cup, guiding veteran stayer Junoob to a fast-finishing win in the $300,000 Listed race.
Rawiller claimed his fourth Ballarat Cup in the past six years as Junoob ($17) emerged from the pack with 200m to go and stormed to the front to win by three-quarters of a length.
Junoob, Ballarat Cup – Photo by Sarah Ebbett
The victory in Saturday’s 2200m Listed race could prompt a re-think for the connections of Junoob who is entered for a thoroughbred sale next month.
“He might not be sold,” trainer Chris Waller said from Sydney after the Cup success.
“I’ll talk to the owners and see if they still want to sell him.
“If not we can look at Brisbane next year and races like the Eagle Farm Cup or maybe the Brisbane Cup.”
Waller said Junoob had been a frustrating horse, struggling for confidence with big weights but was thrilled with the way the eight-year-old looked when he saw him on Friday.
After not being able to slot into a spot early, Rawiller was later able to get Junoob to the fence and the jockey said his confidence grew from there.
Junoob finished well under 60kg after angling into the clear in the straight, beating Wales ($51) who hit the line strongly.
Sonntag ($15) battled on bravely for third, another short head away.
Junoob bounced back from his last-start failure in the Lexus Stakes.
“Take away that last run, his form was outstanding,” Rawiller said.
“To win the Ballarat Cup again is pretty special.”
Rawiller won three in a row on My Bentley (2010), Domesky (2011) and King Diamond (2012).
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne had been hoping to land her hometown Cup aboard the Darren Weir-trained Akzar but things didn’t go to script for them.
Akzar was eased out of the race from the home turn and walked across the line a long last.
“I’m not sure what to make of him, just something wasn’t right with him,” Payne said.
“When I put him under pressure he was the first horse beaten so I didn’t want to push him through any more.
“I just eased him up and hopefully he pulls up alright.”
Stewards reported Akzar pulled up with a throat abnormality.
