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A Kalgoorlie Cup campaign goes on the line for Scintillating when the Blackfriars gelding lines up in Saturday’s BHP Newman Cup (2100m).
Trainer Matthew Stephens believes the way the seven-year-old has been racing this campaign he could warrant a go in the iconic race.
Stephens says Scintillating, previously with top Perth trainer Neville Parnham, is poised to breakthrough after consecutive seconds at Port Hedland.
Scintillating was beaten a long-neck by Galiba in the Ladies Day Cup (2050m) and got to within two lengths of Staaden when chasing him down in the Port Hedland Cup (2200m).
Staaden franked the form and gave Stephens a major shot of confidence after progressing to win the $70,000 Broome Cup (2200m) last Saturday for trainer Rob Gulberti.
To keep him on the fresh side and to avoid what he believed would have been stiffer competition, Stephens stuck to his guns and opted for Scintillating to miss the Broome Cup.
He hopes victory in the Newman Cup will justify his move.
"He is going well, but we avoided the Broome Cup because we thought it would be stronger," Stephens told The Races WA.
"When Staaden won the Broome Cup it was pretty good, we knew we weren't far behind the eight ball.
"We thought Staaden was good, but there were going to be some more handy ones up there.
"Rather than run a good fourth or fifth and even place, we wanted to go confidently towards the Newman Cup.
"After Staaden's run in the Broome Cup we go into Saturday's race with confidence.
"Hopefully it all goes well and if he's up to the mark he can go to Kal (Kalgoorlie).
"I will talk to the owners and it's a plan I could put in place."
If Scintillating does reach the Kalgoorlie Cup on October 2, Stephens hopes he can draw on fond memories from the 2016 carnival.
"I went one year with Lindsey Smith and helped him out with Cougar Express who won the Kalgoorlie Cup," Stephens said.
"And there was another horse that ran second in the Hannans, Reflectance.
"I learnt a lot from Lindsey, it was really good."
Stephens, based in Port Hedland, combines training as hobby with full time work as an electrical supervisor.
Nearly a decade in racing as a trainer, he's keen to add a third major victory to his trophy cabinet.
"I won my first ever race at Newman with Competitive Street, but never a Newman Cup," Stephens said.
"I've won a Marble Bar Cup, a Harding Cup at Roebourne and ran a couple of seconds in the Port Hedland Cup.
"I do horses as a hobby with three or four in the stable.
"I try and get one cup horse to take to the races.
"But winning a Newman Cup will be a first."
Scintillating will be ridden by Chris Nicoll in the Newman Cup. He has drawn barrier eight.
