ROCKING ROSE STORMS TO CUP
ONE Melbourne Cup dream became a reality while another all but ended in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup.
The Symon Wilde-trained mare Tralee Rose booked her place in the $8m Melbourne Cup after fighting off Dr Drill’s determined challenge in the $400,000 feature.
Tralee Rose was already on the edge of the Melbourne Cup field in
25th in the latest order of entry for the race but a possible weight penalty and the $240,000 winner’s cheque would be enough to secure her spot.
“It is dawning on us now that we’ve got a genuine live hope in the Melbourne Cup,” Wilde said.
TAB agreed with Wilde’s assessment, promoting Tralee Rose to the third line of Melbourne Cup betting at $15.
The trainer said Tralee Rose’s
position in the Melbourne Cup order of entry left him wondering whether to run the mare in the Geelong Cup.
He was thankful he made the right decision.
“We were grappling whether to run or not and I’m glad we did,” he said.
“It will top her off beautifully. It’s not like she’s falling in (to the Melbourne Cup field), she’s getting stronger as the races go on late.”
Unfortunately, dual AFL
premiership-winning coach-turnedtrainer Denis Pagan was bitterly disappointed with Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry’s effort.
Johnny Get Angry showed little fight in the straight, dropping out to finish 19 lengths from the winner.
Last year’s Derby winner was safely in the Melbourne Cup field but Pagan said he would need to take time to consider the stayer’s future.
“It was disappointing,” he said.