Country cup in star’s sights

LAST season’s Group 3 Hobart Cup winner Count Da Vinci tuned up for the Cranbourne Cup with a game fourth in a 1700m handicap at Caulfield yesterday.

The Scott Brunton-trained gelding raced outside of the leader before forging to the front turning for home and he battled on gamely to just miss a place, finishing only 1.35 lengths from the winner.

It was Count Da Vinci’s third run this preparation and Brunton was more than pleased with his effort.

“They ran along a bit and he stuck to his guns nicely, so I am more than pleased heading forward into the Cranbourne Cup in a fortnight,” he said.

Stablemate Hellova Street produced a game performance to finish third in a $120,000 open sprint over 1100m.

The reigning Tasmanian horse of the year started well and eventu- ally crossed from a wide gate to race outside of the leader.

With David Pires aboard, Hellova Street reached the lead in the home straight and fought on gamely to just miss second place.

Comeback jockey Jason Maskiell partnered Tasmanian gelding Willbe Rules ($23) into 10th place but only 4.5 lengths from the winner in what was the rider’s return to race riding interstate.

Willbe Rules was used up early from his inside barrier to settle behind the leaders and he battled gamely over the closely stages.

The Troy Blacker-trained Settler’s Stone, who is part-owned by this writer, finished third in the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington last Saturday

Settler’s Stone is being aimed at the Prince Of Penzance (2800m) BM94 Handicap on Melbourne Cup day and Blacker says the gelding is likely to have one or two more starts before that assignment.