WODONGA Gold Cup day hasn’t been a happy one for Brett Cavanough in recent years.
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The feature race, in particular, has eluded the Albury trainer when little else has.
Cavanough has won just about everything in the region, including a handful of Southern District Racing Association premierships north of the border.
The Wodonga Gold Cup, though, remains just out of reach.
Prince Pedro was forced into early retirement after bleeding from both nostrils following last year’s cup, while Scatcat failed to finish in the race the year before.
Game of Shadows will be out to avoid a hat-trick of unfortunate events on Friday.
Cavanough said he was just hoping for the best.
“There’s nothing worse than going to the races and coming home with a truck full of losers,” he said.
“I’ve done that from places plenty further away than Wodonga. At least it’s a short drive home.
“We’ve gone close to winning the cup once or twice, but we’ve probably never targeted it, as it doesn’t fit in with our other carnivals in NSW.
“This year we decided to aim a few horses at it and try to change our luck if we can.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good team in for today.”
That team of Cavanough’s for Wodonga consists of six horses, all of them live chances in his estimation.
Cinastar, a three-year-old Star Witness filly, will make its debut in race one, the 1200m Be Races Ready Maiden Plate, after showing good speed to win a trial at Echuca last week.
Cavanough’s other debutant Ronnie’s Girl will go around in the 1100m Nordcon LAND Maiden Plate, the third race on the card, after a nice trial as well.
Escebee comes back from a start at Moonee Valley in race seven, while Ruark will take on experienced stablemate Via Torrone in the final race of the day.
That leaves Game of Shadows as the hope in the $90,000 Telstra Business Centre Wodonga Gold Cup.
Though the gelding will likely jump at the longest of odds, Cavanough said he could still make some noise.
“He’s in really, really good order,” he said.
“He’s had a super prep and is a big, strong horse.”