Patience and persistence aren’t always rewarded in racing but if Speycaster can land consecutive wins in the Stayer’s Cup, it will be on the back of those two commodities.
The six-year-old was struggling for form in Victoria so trainer Chris Waller opted for a change of scenery and transferred him to their Sydney stable.
It didn’t yield an immediate result when he was soundly beaten in the Lord Mayors Cup (2000m), however, there were signs the tide might be beginning to turn with Speycaster’s closing last start fourth in the Winter Cup (2400m) at Randwick.
“He was much better last start,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
“He had been really plain and needed to lift but he did. I thought he was almost going to win at one point.
“It’s just ultimately match fitness, especially with those older geldings.”
Speycaster was well beaten in the Winter Cup last year before rebounding to claim the Stayers Cup (2400m) and he heads into the corresponding race on Saturday off the back of a much stronger lead-up performance.
In a field where nine of the 11 runners haven’t managed a win at their past five starts, he is rated a $6.50 chance.
Last year’s Brisbane Cup winner Alegron has also been battling to produce his best form, finishing out of the placings in all four campaign runs, and returns to Sydney after a stint in Queensland.
Trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton says the gelding is capable of improving sharply if he can get conditions to suit.
“He hasn’t been racing at his best but he hasn’t had any luck with tracks and the speed of races,” Hilton said.
“In Queensland, they walked in the Brisbane Cup and went very fast home so he had no opportunity to get into the race.
“If he can find his best he’s in that race on Saturday.”
Alegron is an $9 chance with betting headed by Casual Connection ($3.10), who was a winner over the distance at Randwick two starts ago.
