Trainer says Aesop getting into his stride for Cup
IT MIGHT be a long- shot, but Cairns trainer Glenn Porter has ambitions to start Aesop in next Saturday’s Cairns Amateurs Cup, requiring a victory over 2000m this afternoon at Cluden Park to boost his chances.
Aesop flashed home to run second in his first attempt at the 1900m journey earlier this month, put in a solid effort in the Produce Cup at Innisfail a fortnight ago and now looks towards the $ 8000 Benchmark 60 Handicap ( 2000m) today in the last of five at Townsville.
Porter said that the seven- yearold had gone from strength to strength after running second to Binary on the first day of the Cairns Cup carnival recently.
“His rating of 46 is still a bit low, so he will need to win at Townsville this Saturday to get in the Amateurs Cup,” Porter said.
“I thought he ran a pretty good race at Innisfail last start and all is going good.”
Townsville Cup winning jockey Chelsea Jokic is back on board the gelding today after she piloted him at Cannon Park two starts back.
Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe sends Arms Race and Platinum Pulse to the Benchmark 60 Handicap, while Mareeba’s Alex Malliff will be keen to see Ramsden Street bounce back to form in the race.
This afternoon’s Townsville nonTAB meeting was shifted from Ingham after renovation work to the Herbert River Jockey Club racetrack.