Robert Witten dares to dream

Trainer Robert Witten has been a passive observer of his hometown Bunbury Cup for six decades, but he’s hoping it’s a different story on March 8 and that he can play a more active role.

Witten has experienced top level racing success before, but taking out the Bunbury Cup on home turf is an ambition he craves, and he believes he has the right horse to do it.

Witten is daring to dream of Bunbury Cup (2000m) glory and winning it for the first time with Fly With Caution, a homebred that’s shown promise in 12 career starts.

“I think I was about six months when I went to my first Bunbury Cup in a pram,” Witten said.

“I’ve been to lots of them, it’s been nearly 60 years, so it would be nice to win one.

“They don’t hand them out on a plate, you have to work pretty hard to win them.

“It’s a nice race and wouldn’t it be nice to win it.”

The first step in Witten’s Bunbury Cup plans is Saturday when Fly With Caution resumes after a short let up in the Ascot Mile, his first race back since November.

Witten says the $100,000 contest will provide a good guide on Fly With Caution’s Bunbury Cup ambitions, going up against a small but quality line up.

Headlining the nine-horse field is form mare, Bonjoy, going for a hat trick of wins and second feature after the Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m).

WA Oaks champion Own The Queen and Sensessional, a last-start winner for the powerful Grant and Alana Williams stable, will also attract punter interest.

Witten says if Fly With Caution can measure up against career-best opposition, the Galah four-year-old would have passed a significant test.

“It’s a pretty slick field, but sometimes in life you have to see where you sit in the pecking order,” Witten said.

“It’s a stepping stone to the Bunbury Cup with the Detonator Stakes next, that’s what we want to do.

“That’s the plan we’ve had all the time, whether we get there we’ll find out in the next couple of runs, I suppose.”

Witten says he’s pleased with how Fly With Caution has come through his last campaign when he reached his fifth career win last October.

Coupled with a top warm up trial when fifth behind Silver Eye and Witten is confident Fly With Caution is primed to go first up over 1600m.

“I’m really happy with the horse and his trial the other day I thought was enormous,” Witten said.

“He worked to the line really nice and his work this morning (Tuesday) was as good as he’s ever worked going into a race.

“First up over a mile won’t worry him, he’s the cleanest winded horse I’ve ever trained.

“He’s virtually been in work the whole time.

“I’ll think he will run a ripper.

“Whether he wins is another story, but he’ll run a good race.

“He’s as good as I’ve had him.”

Fly With Caution has drawn the extreme outside gate, barrier nine and will be ridden by Steven Parnham.

Witten, who co trains with his daughter, Kate, says if Fly With Caution can reach anywhere near the levels of his best horse, Lizzy Long Legs, he’s in for a wild ride

The Steel Glow mare won a Group 3 and two Listed races and placed third behind Hall Of Famer, Northerly in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).

Fly With Caution is $13 with Tabtouch, behind $2.70 favourite, Bonjoy.

Russian To The Bar is $4.40, Sensessional $4.60 and Own The Queen $7.

“He’s been a bit underrated, but that’s fine,” Witten said.

“They never ever rated Lizzy Long Legs either.

“I think she drifted every time she started.”