Rhythm’s cup test
RACING: Toowoomba sprinter Rhyme Nor Rhythm will look to open another career door when he chases a country feature victory in tomorrow’s Warwick Credit Union Warwick Cup (1500m) at Allman Park.
The lightly raced gelding is set to attract plenty of attention from punters when he steps up in distance to 1500 metres for the first time in his bid for the $25,000 cup.
The 12-horse cup field is headed by last year’s race winner Belflyer who lines up tomorrow as a last-start Ballina winner for trainer John Shelton.
Other in-form runners include last month’s Dalby Cup (1400m) winner Zip To The Moon and the race runner-up Just As Loyal.
Rhyme Nor Rhythm was a Clifford Park Class 5 winner over 1200 metres two runs back before finishing a closing third in an identical event at the Gold Coast four weeks ago.
The five-year-old is yet to race beyond 1200 metres but trainer Lindsay Hatch is prepared to throw the dice with the son of Lope de Vega tomorrow.
“I’ve been keen to go to 1400 metres with him, but when this nice race on Saturday came up I was happy enough to give him
his chance in it,” Hatch said.
“He’s going good and I think he can cope with it okay.
“He is a naturally fit type of horse who should handle the step up.
“It was good to get back to Toowoomba two runs back to get that win under his belt and then he got home well at his next run on the Gold Coast.
“He’s drawn out in 11 on Saturday but he’s got a good
jockey (Josh Oliver), and if they happen to get more rain before the meeting they might be a bit better suited out wider.
“The top weight (Belfyer) is the horse to beat.
“He’s been here before and he looks to be going well at present. But he has got 59.5kg to carry this year.”
Belflyer carried 54kg to victory last year over Spice Of Life and Heroic Action.
Tomorrow’s Warwick Turf
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He’s going good and I think he can cope with it okay.
— Lindsay Hatch
Club TAB card also includes the Frasers Livestock Transport Warwick Newmarket Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m).