Victorian trainer Mark Riley will continue a northern country cups campaign with in-form galloper Gold In Dubai who runs in Saturday’s Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast.
Riley said the five-year-old had pulled up really well since his front running victory in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) over Danagaze and Our Lukas on June 18.
He said he may even extend the gelding’s campaign with one more run in the $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 14 before sending him for a spell.
“If he pulled up exceptionally well and did exceptionally well I would go to Grafton if the track is going to be alright there,” he said.
“I was born in Melbourne but I grew up in Grafton so it would be a great thrill for us to have a runner in a Grafton Cup.”
“At the end of the day the priority is the horse. If I think he’s been up for too long I’ll give him a break.
“But while he’s racing so well and doing well I’ll just keep racing him.”
Riley said longer term the Bendigo Cup (2400m) in the spring and the Hobart Cup (2200m) and Launceston Cup (2200m), both next February, were all options.
Gold In Dubai, a winner of five races from 34 starts and placed in another 12 for more than $500,000 prize money, has had 16 outings so far this preparation with five weeks being his longest break between runs since late August last year.
But the gelding has relished being stepped up to middle distances, running third over 2000 metres at Flemington on April 25, winning over that track and trip on May 7 and then finishing second to the impressive imported galloper December Draw over the same course on May 21.
“He’s done a great job the horse. He’s had a lot of bad luck in a few runs, he never runs a bad race,” Riley said.
Ironstein, the winner of the 2010 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) is not expected to back up following his success in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
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