Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse is a ‘50-50 chance’ of starting Stampede in Friday’s $150,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
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Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott will make a decision on Wednesday as to whether Stampede will come to Wagga, or stay in Sydney for the $150,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
If Wagga gets the green light, Waterhouse will be out to win her first Wagga Gold Cup since Regal Touch’s victory back in 2001.
Stampede has been installed as the $4.60 second favourite for the Cup and Bott said the stable would love to bring the four-year-old to Wagga.
“We’re going to accept in both then make a decision, but at this stage our preference would be to come down to Wagga,” Bott said.
“We’ll have to weigh up the field, the barrier, our chances in both and where we are best positioned to win.
“It’s 50-50 at the moment.”
Stampede has drawn barrier six at Wagga and promising apprentice Rachel King is booked to ride.
Waterhouse and Bott have a big opinion of Stampede, a winner of three races from just seven starts, and are hoping he can bounce back after a disappointing last start fourth placing in the Anzac Cup at Randwick.
While a final decision is still to be made on Stampede, Waterhouse and Bott will bring Lord Macau for the $80,000 MTC Guineas (1600m) and Tough As Teak for the $40,000 Queen of the South (1400m).
Waterhouse has travelled to Warrnambool for the carnival and won’t be present in Wagga for the Cup.