BORDER jockey Nick Souquet said the pain of last year’s Wodonga Cup disaster still burns and has warned punters not to forget his mount, defending winner Dr Nipandtuck, in tomorrow’s $60,000 feature.
Souquet was the hard-luck story of last year’s cup when he sustained an injury earlier in the day which prevented him from riding Dr Nipandtuck in the feature race.
At the time, Souquet described his horrific luck as “the most gut-wrenching” day of his career, a pain that has not completely subsided.
“I certainly haven’t forgotten about it, that’s for sure,” Souquet said of the 2008 disappointment.
“It&rsquo ;s like losing a premiership, it hurts and it’s something that drives you, and it’s driven me.
“The whole thing was out of my hands — a piece of bad luck that couldn’t be averted — but it’s something I want to rectify anyway.
“I haven’t won a Wodonga Cup either so it would be a pretty special win for me if I’m lucky enough.”
Despite being unbeaten at Wodonga and clearly the highest-rated galloper in the race, Dr Nipandtuck has been mostly unwanted by punters this week.
The Wangaratta seven-year-old was an $11 chance with TAB Sportsbet last night, with Brian Cox-trained youngster Berringama sharing favouritism with Melbourne gelding Syndrome which firmed into $3.60.
Dr Nipandtuck hasn’t won since last year’s Wodonga Cup but Souquet warned punters to dismiss Dr Nipandtuck at their own peril.
“I think he has been a bit forgotten,” Souquet said.
“He obviously hasn’t won for a while but he’s coming down in class, he races well at Wodonga, he’s not weighted badly — I think he’s right in it.
“To be honest I think there’s only two or three main chances — Brian Cox’s (Berringama) will be tough to beat, as will a couple of the outsiders, but outside of that would be a bit of an upset.”
Souquet has ridden Wodonga trainer Peter Maher’s only cup entrant Beau Esprit ($26) in three of its past five runs.
The five-year-old speedster has never raced over more than 1300m but Souquet said he won’t be surprised to see Beau Esprit fighting out the finish tomorrow.
“He is stretching over a mile but if a horse is ever going to get 1600m it’s going to do it at Wodonga,” Souquet said.”
BETTING: (TAB fixed-odds) Berringama 3.60, 1.48. Syndrome 3.60, 1.54. Bronislava 4.60, 1.75. Thrillionaire 7.50, 2.36. Dr Nipandtuck 11.00, 3.10. Pink Shimmer 11.00, 3.10. Flagstaff 14.00, 3.73. Fund Us Keep Us 18.00, 4.57. Beau Esprit 21.00, 5.21. El Martini 21.00, 5.21. Spaceage Juliet 31.00, 7.31. Our Boy Ned 101.00, 22.05
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