Britton pair need luck in home cup

LARA trainer Rob Britton says luck in running will decide tonight’s $67,000 Geelong Gold Cup.

Britton has two runners — Blue Gum Hill and Not Available — after they progressed through heats over the 460m trip last Friday.

Not Available clocked the thirdfastest time, while Blue Gum Hill scraped into the starting eight despite finishing second in his heat.

The veteran trainer, who has not won a Geelong Gold Cup for more than 20 years, said it would be a thrill to pull off the unlikely.

“It would be special. It’s always something special, the home cup,” Britton said. “The Geelong Cup has always been a very hard race to get into, simply because I think it’s a high-quality race. To win it would be magnificent.”

But Britton said favourite Bewildering would be the dog to beat.

His pair, however, are chances if luck falls their way.

Not Available is a progressive type, boasting seven wins from 14 starts, while Blue Gum Hill, nine wins and 14 placings from 40 starts, has had a stellar career.

“If he comes out running, he has got the speed, but I’d much prefer to have the fence,” Britton said of Blue Gum Hill.

“If you put those eight around solo, Bewildering would win. He’s the key. If he gets a clear run, I think we’re all running for place money.”

He said Not Available would also need some fortune from box seven.

“I know he’s got the ability, but if you don’t come out (well) you don’t win many races,” he said.

The Geelong Gold Cup is race eight on a 12-race card, scheduled at 9.08pm with first prize of $47,000.