Ballarat Cup 2015: Jones Confident Mujadale Can Go Back-To-Back

Mujadale will be included in the 2015 Ballarat Cup field that will be released tomorrow and trainer Paul Jones is confident that the veteran stayer can record his second straight victory in the Listed event at Ballarat on Saturday.

Mujadale has the chance to become the first horse since Warri Symbol in 1983 to win back-to-back editions of the Ballarat Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Mujadale has the chance to become the first horse since Warri Symbol in 1983 to win back-to-back editions of the Ballarat Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Mujadale led from start to finish to record an upset win in the Ballarat Cup last year and he has not recorded a race win since, but Jones has been happy with the lead-up form of the veteran gelding.

The eight-year-old started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the 1Print Craig Opie Cup (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5 and he took up the running in the early stages of the race before he tired late to finish fifth behind Chance To Dance.

Mujadale was then sent to Adelaide for the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m) at Morphettville on September 19, but he was one of the best horses beaten and beat home just a single runner before he produced another flat performance in the Horsham Cup (1800m) on October 30.

He backed up just over a week later in the Ararat Gold Cup on November 8 and he produced a much improved performance to finish a close third behind Something To Share and Straight Jacket.

Jones told AAP that he has been happy with the form of Mujadale this preparation ahead of the 2015 Ballarat Cup and he is confident that the gutsy stayer is going just as well as he was 12 months ago

“I think he’s going as well as last year,” the Stawell-based Jones said.

“His last start was really good and if he had won last time I would say his form would be better than last year.

“He probably should have won (at Ararat) if he had got into clear running in the straight,” Jones said.

“If he could have got out at at the top of the straight when he wanted to it might have been different.

“He’s back in form and it’s all looking good.”

Mujadale has the chance to become the first horse since Warri Symbol in 1983 to win the Ballarat Cup in back-to-back years and he is set to carry 54 kilograms.

The 2015 Ballarat Cup field will be released tomorrow, but Mujadale is set to take on the likes of Junoob, Index Linked, Prince Cheri, Our Voodoo Prince, Wish Come True, Tooleybuc Kid, Crafty Cruiser, Sonntag and Maygrove in the Listed event.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.