LAST year’s placegetter Jacquinot Bay is the most likely representative from in-form trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig for Friday week’s Albury Gold Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hayes has been a big supporter of the Gold Cup in recent times, having had at least one runner in the $170,000 feature for the past five years.
The Hall of Fame trainer also boasts a lethal strike rate after claiming the Border’s premier race with Growl (2010) and Extra Zero (2012). Extra Zero also finished runner-up in 2011.
Lindsay Park racing manager Jason Timperley said Jacquinot Bay would either head to Albury or the spelling paddock.
“I would say Jacquinot Bay would only be a slim chance of heading to Albury at this early stage,” Timperley said.
“We are still tossing up whether to give him one more run this preparation.
“A final decision will be made in the next couple of days.
“Anaween is our only definite runner, in a Class 1 race over 1175 metres.”
Jacquinot Bay started second favourite in the Gold Cup last year but was beaten just under half a length by Canny Ballad.
Then trained by Guy Walter, the seven-year-old gelding was transferred to Lindsay Park following the veteran trainer’s tragic heart attack in May.
Jacquinot Bay resumed from a spell in August and has had 14 starts this preparation, reeling off three consecutive city wins in a purple patch in December.
The consistent stayer has finished unplaced at his past two runs at Caulfield and Flemington in group 2 company.
Extra Zero was an outstanding second in Saturday’s Australian Cup behind Spillway, but won’t target the Riverina’s richest race for a fourth time, instead going to Rosehill for the group 1 BMW the next day.
