Gordonvale Cup
A former Gai Waterhouse gelding looks the one to beat in the 101st edition of the Bill Dawson Memorial Gordonvale Cup today at the Gordonvale Turf Club. Vaunting, who was under the watch of Melbourne Cup winning trainer Waterhouse until the middle of 2015, arrives at Gordonvale this afternoon with strong form and his favourite jockey back on board.
HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENT, EVER SINCE WE BROUGHT HIM UP FROM WATERHOUSE. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A HANDFUL OF TIMES HE HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE MONEY SAMANTHA MOLINO
A FORMER Gai Waterhouse gelding looks the one to beat in the 101st edition of the Bill Dawson Memorial Gordonvale Cup today at the Gordonvale Turf Club.
Vaunting, who was under the watch of Melbourne Cup winning trainer Waterhouse until the middle of 2015, arrives at Gordonvale this afternoon with strong form and his favourite jockey back on board.
Now trained at Atherton by Samantha Molino, Vaunting got too far back in the field during the Atherton Cup last month but Molino is confident of a bold showing today as stable jockey Stephen Wilson returns to the saddle.
“He has always been consistent, ever since we brought him up from Waterhouse,” Molino said.
“There has only been a handful of times he has been outside of the money.
“Hopefully with Steve back in, as the horse is working great now.”
Today’s field for the Gordonvale Cup is similar to that of Atherton last month after Stable Surprize, for Trevor Rowe, claimed the $15,000 event from How Can I Help, with Vaunting running a fast-finishing third.
Molino says Vaunting, by Fastnet Rock from Hifalutin, loves the new surrounds in the Far North.
“We do not normally get horses up our way from places like Gai Waterhouse’s,” Molino said.
“He came up really well and come to life where we train.
“He loves the farm and looking around.”
Vaunting had two starts for Waterhouse, ridden by Paul King on both occasions.
Gordonvale Turf Club committee member Gary Riches is over the moon with the strength of today’s fields.
“The fields are at a maximum for us with full fields in all races,” Riches said. “It is brilliant for our club.” Gordonvale trainer Ralph Baker, while he does not have a starter in the Cup, likes the chances of his two hopes, Scrobet on debut, and Nic’s Time today.
Molino also starts Bibia Be Ye Ye in the QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m) today.
“He has shown a lot in his work but he has not put it together on race day yet,” Molino said.
“The owners are big fans of Ed Sheeran, so that is where the name came from.”
Idle Situation, trained by Glen Baker, scooped the 100th edition of the $15,000 Gordonvale Cup in 2016.
Meanwhile, Far North trainers Stephen Potiris and Michael Lee bagged a winner at Cluden Park on Thursday, ridden by Quayde Krogh and Amanda Thomson respectively.