WILL he or won’t he back up in today’s Flat Knacker?
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That was the question on racegoers lips when The Monstar ($2.60) lived up to his name and monstered a below par City Handicap (1175m) yesterday.
Dominant in the betting ring, the four-year-old travelled off the pace to the turn and when Richie Bensley pulled him into clear galloping room he sprinted past his rivals to win almost untouched.
Immediately after the win trainer Brett Cavanough was still toying with the idea of giving his stable star a shot at winning back-to-back Flat Knackers (900m).
Albury premier trainer will give himself to 7.30am today to make a decision.
“It’s a long time between now and when we have to make a decision,” he said.
“It was a terrific ride — when Richie came out of the rooms I asked him what he wanted to do and he said I’ll get a suck run behind Escebee and that is how it panned out.
“He finished that off in good style — this horse is going places, he could win a Wagga Town Plate.
“We don’t need to bust him tomorrow but he’s owned by some local boys so we have left the gate open and they will be keen to see him start.
“But he has raced some high class horses in town and never been disgraced so we have some decisions to make.”
The Monstar had almost two lengths to spare on Art Thou Ready ($6) and Calke Abbey ($18) running a slick 1.09.38.
It was Cavanough’s first win in the feature after a frustrating run of three seconds and the first of a winning double with Cat Tales ($5) saluting in the last yesterday.
Veteran Albury Cup carnival visitor Bede Murray also maintained his impressive strike rate when Life of Reilly won the feature mile yesterday. The seven-year-old made light of the wide gate to track the leaders into the straight before sprinting clear of the heavily backed favourite Hero Master ($4) to win by a length in the inaugural Baxters Concrete Mile.
Murray said they found the key to the horse.
“He likes his races spaced, needs to be kept fresh and 1600m is as far as he can go,” he said.
“He’s best suited on the big tracks like Albury and now we will look for a race in town probably after the Sydney carnival .”
Jockey Brenton Avdulla said he was confident before the race and more confident in running.
“The gate was the only concern and that took care of itself,” he said.
“I just tracked Jye McNeil (Hero Master) and when I let him go at the top of the straight he had them covered in a stride.”
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