3 minute read
One lady trainer’s cast-off is another lady trainer’s treasure and for Gosford’s Kylie Gavenlock that treasure comes in the form of Wyong Cup hopeful Samui Lad.
The horse, which has only been in her stable for three weeks, will be Gavenlock’s first runner in this afternoon's Listed $150,000 Carlton Mid Wyong Cup (2100m).
A chance conversation at an open morning at Gai Waterhouse’s stable led to Samui Lad leaving Tulloch Lodge to reside in the quiet, relaxed atmosphere of the Central Coast.
The change of pace and Gavenlock’s training routine has worked wonders on the seven-year-old, running a cheeky fourth in the Hawkesbury Cup at his first start for his new trainer followed by a fourth over 1500-metres at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.
Those were the first real glimpses of form from Samui Lad since he won over 1400m at Rosehill last December but now Gavenlock and jockey Grant Buckley face a new challenge with the horse.
“Samui Lad has never been over the cup distance and while his natural racing style is to lead Grant is going to have to get him to settle in front,” Gavenlock said. “If he doesn’t settle it is game over but if he does settle I think he will run a very cheeky race.
“Grant got him to settle in the Hawkesbury Cup and that is why I have put him back on.”
After failing at four starts this time in, Waterhouse recommended to owner George Warrener that it might be time to move Samui Lad on. However, Warrener had bred the son of Canny Lad and was loathe to part with him.
“George was at the open day and wondering to do when he fell into conversation with Donna and Greg Kolivos,” Gavenlock said. “They suggested he send the horse up to me as I had been successful with some of their horses.
“Samui Lad loves the quiet, relaxed way we do things here and has his own yard where he spends a lot of time every day. He is a happy horse and I am a happy trainer to have horse good enough to run in the cup.
“It is so hard for the small trainer these days because everyone wants their horse in one of the big, city stables. If we can win the cup it might help attract some more clients.”
The challenge for Gavenlock and Samui Lad comes in the form of Waterhouse who will start both the topweight, favourite and last year’s winner Julienas (Tim Clark) and stablemate Kinnersley (Blake Shinn).
Then there are Chris Waller’s two runners, the ultra-consistent Sacred Flyer (Glyn Schofield) and last year’s Australia Day Cup winner Wazn (Jim Cassidy).
Julienas, nominated for both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, has had only a handful of starts since narrowly beating the Stephen Farley-trained Gazza Guru to win the cup last year.
After his Wyong success Julienas ran second in the Group 3-Colin Stephen at Rosehill before being spelled then resumed to win the Listed-Sky High Stakes and Listed-Manion Cup, both at Rosehill in the autumn. He failed in the Chairman’s Handicap and Sydney Cup before being spelled again then resumed with an eye-catching second in the Group 3-Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) on August 22.
Gazza Guru, prepared at Wyong by Sincero’s trainer Stephen Farley, lines up for his fourth bid on the cup after winning the South Grafton Cup in July and the Taree Cup last month.
Last year Gazza Guru was beaten in a photo finish in the cup by Julienas after running into interference in the straight when trying to take a run between Julienas and Kelinni. However, it was found that Kelinni and not Julienas had contributed to the interference.
Farley said Gazza Guru was primed to run another big race: “Julienas is obviously the horse to beat and he is the class runner but he goes up from 56.5kg last year to 61kg at his second run back while we stay on 54kg,” Farley said.
SELECTIONS
1-12.58, GUARDIAN SAFETY SOLUTIONS CLASS TWO, 1200m: SKY PRINCE 1, Megathink 2, Bombsquad 3, Poltava 4.
2-1.33, TURFCARE NSW MAIDEN, 1200m: BUSSELTON 1, Power Supply 2, Society Man 3, Tuscan 4.
3-2.08, DOYALSON-WYEE RSL CLUB MAIDEN, 1200m: COMMAND MORE 1, Shahad 2, Rocky My Fuji 3, Hard To Hold 4.
4-2.43, CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCI, 1350m: MR JACKMAN 1, Superstition 2, Darci Magic 3, Brook Road 4.
5-3.18, ALTONA ELECTRICS SPRINGTIME, 1100m: QUICK’S THE WORD 1, Aroused 2, Midnight At Ascot 3, Masterstroke 4.
6-3.55, McNAMEE CONSTRUCTIONS MONA LISA, 1350m: HIDDEN KISSES 1, A Time For Julia 2, No Looking Back 3, Capital Commander 4.
7-4.35, CARLTON MID WYONG GOLD CUP, 2100m: JULIENAS 1, Sacred Flyer 2, Gazza Guru 3, Samui Lad 4.
8-5.15, SKY CHANNEL PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64, 1600m: OH MY PAPA 1, Magic Show 2, Senor Montoya 3, Bonus Spin 4.
Best Bets: Sky Prince, Hidden Kisses
