3 minute read
Hotspot Mugatoo will have to set a modern day weight-carrying record to win tomorrow’s $200,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Broadmeadow.
The exciting import dominates pre-post betting as he strives to end Kris Lees' run of minor placings and give him an overdue breakthrough in his hometown feature.
Mugatoo , unbeaten from two Sydney starts this campaign at Rosehill Gardens over 1500m and 1900m, has 59kg topweight; last year's Cup winner Hush Writer closest with 3kg less.
Not since Buzalong carried a similar weight (9st 4lbs) to victory in 1940 has a horse won Newcastle's major race with more weight.
Gladsome humped a remarkable 68kg (10st 10lbs) to victory – a record that will never be beaten - in one of the early runnings of the race in 1906.
In recent times, Beyond Thankful (2015) and Glencadam Gold (2012) carried 58kg to success, whilst Joss Sticks (1998) and Azzaam (1993) won with 57.5kg.
Lees, who earlier in the week expressed his disappointment with Mugatoo's handicap (he expected 57kg), is fully aware of the task confronting his six-year-old.
Nonetheless, he is confident he will give his supporters a great run for their money.
"I'm very happy with Mugatoo's progress since he won the 1900m Premiers Cup (with 57kg)," Lees said this afternoon.
"I guess there has to be a little question at 2300m with such a big weight, but he is in terrific order and we will be banking on Kerrin (McEvoy) giving him a great ride."
Mugatoo also is a current dominant favorite for the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
He already has 56kg, and though eligible for a penalty if he wins tomorrow, it would be surprising if that occurred.
Especially given the fact that 2012 Newcastle Cup winner Glencadam Gold won The Metropolitan with 53kg. Azzaam (56.5kg) was second in the Randwick feature after winning at Newcastle, whilst Joss Sticks finished third with 55.5kg and Beyond Thankful ran 12th with 57kg.
Understandably, Lees isn't pinning all his hopes of a Newcastle Gold Cup breakthrough on Mugatoo, talented though he is.
He also runs Big Duke (Jason Collett), Attention Run (Andrew Gibbons) and Aliferous (Regan Bayliss) – all of them raced by Australian Bloodstock syndicates, as with Mugatoo.
Whilst Big Duke is an outsider, Lees knows he is capable of an upset.
"Big Duke's work in the last couple of weeks has been super," he said. "If the track stays with the jar out of it and he runs up to that work, he is well weighted on his old form on the minimum (54kg).
"Attention Run has drawn awkwardly, but hopefully can get over into a nice position. It's a similar profile to when she ran second to Hush Writer last year.
"Aliferous raced at Doomben last Saturday when placed and has travelled back well. She is consistent and has an outside chance."
Lees also has four runners in Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares. His "girls" are Wandabaa (Brenton Avdulla), Stella Sea Sun (Jim Byrne), Regimental Band (Kerrin McEvoy) and Game Of Thorns, for whom he is yet to finalise a rider.
"Wandabaa's form has been fantastic; you can't fault it," Lees said. "This will most likely be Stella Sea Sun's last run before going to stud, Game Of Thorns has drawn well and is very capable fresh, whilst we will ride recent Wyong winner Regimental Band conservatively from her wide barrier."
Lees has a strong chance earlier in the meeting with True Faith (James McDonald) in the F&M Maiden Handicap (1400m).
A younger half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Le Romain, she put up a tremendous effort when a strong-finishing fourth to in a similar race over 1300m at Newcastle on September 1.
She drew awkwardly then, and is much better placed tomorrow.
. Lees has a number of runners at the second day of the carnival on Saturday, with lightly-raced Kinloch (Gibbons) holding much interest for his return in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
"He has drawn poorly and we will ride him conservatively," Lees said.
Stablemate Kanavu (Aaron Bullock) also will run in the same race, whilst Siesta Key has been withdrawn.
