The City Tattersall’s Club Cup might have been the race that got away for emerging stayer Travolta but he will get another chance to boost his prospects of a Metropolitan start via the Newcastle Gold Cup.
Starting an odds-on favourite, Travolta was brought undone by a brilliant tactical ride from James McDonald aboard Changingoftheguard, the jockey adopting catch-me-if-you-can tactics that turned the 2400-metre contest into a genuine staying test.
Travolta tried hard but couldn’t wear down the frontrunner, although Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth expected that experience to hold the five-year-old in good stead for Friday’s assignment.
“It just got away from him a little bit, which was unfortunate because it was a race he could have won,” Duckworth said.
“But we won’t worry about spilt milk. It’s a small field but it looks a competitive race. The 2300 will be no issue and hopefully he can get himself right up the order in terms of getting into the Metropolitan.”
Waller has an outstanding Newcastle Cup record having won six of the past 10 renewals and will saddle four runners on Friday, including the top two in betting with Travolta a $3.40 second pick behind stablemate Soul Of Spain ($2.15 fav).
The latter has earned his shot after a brace of impressive wins in Queensland and while the Newcastle Cup (2300m) marks a sharp rise in grade, the gelding is demonstrating the hallmarks of being a handy stayer.
“This is going to be much harder stepping up to Group racing but he’s a beautiful style of horse,” he said.
“He’s got a good action. He is a very clean winded horse and he covers the ground well. He’s one where we don’t really know where the ceiling is.”
As for the stable’s top pick in the race?
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Duckworth said.
“They’re both highly progressive, they’ve both done everything we’ve put in front of them and it’s just going to be a case of who is better on the day.”
The Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) is one of three stakes races on the program along with the Cameron Handicap (1500m), for which Swiftfalcon is a $4 favourite, and the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) headlined by It’s A Knockout.
