Wangaratta trainer Dan McCarthy says Pittsburgh’s winning run in Sunday’s Albury Mile was simply too good not to race him in Friday’s $180,000 Albury Gold Cup.
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The four-year old reversed the result from the previous weekend’s Corowa Cup, toppling the Goulburn-trained Nagging by just under two lengths.
Albury trainer Graham Hulm’s Supply Money was third.
“Certainly if he pulls up well, it’s going to be very, very difficult not for him go around in it (the Cup),” McCarthy said.
“That win was just too impressive to not contemplate it.”
Certainly if he pulls up well, it’s going to be very, very difficult not for him go around in it.
- Dan McCarthy
The sire of Fastnet Rock, voted Australia’s champion sprinter in 2004-05, Pittsburgh was ridden superbly by Kayla Nisbet.
“The idea was to have him where he’s happy, he just loves to relax,” McCarthy said.
“He just loves to get back in his races and, if you leave him alone early, that’s the way he finishes off.
“It was just great to see someone riding him for the first time and just be so composed.
“As soon as they straightened up, he just looked the winner, he was just cruising in behind them.
“It was a very impressive ride as much as it was a very impressive win.”
McCarthy says the Gold Cup would spell the end of his current campaign.
“It’s his first preparation for us and he’s now won four races during that time,” McCarthy said.
“Not many horses win four races in a prep, especially in a feature race over a carnival.”
Former Albury trainer Brett Cavanough, in his return to Border racing in 12 months, was sixth with Brazen, while Corowa trainer Geoff Duryea’s Villicana was next.
Albury trainers won the first three races.