Back in form stayer Banca Mo gets his chance to head back to the winner’s stall after drawing a midfield gate in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Draught Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Banca Mo has drawn midfield in the Tattersall’s Cup at the Gold Coast. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Banca Mo gained a start in the 2015 Group 1 $3m Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield in October when he won the Listed $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington on March 28 while under the care of Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton.
Now trained by Bevan Laming, the Tough Speed gelding went down narrowly to the Chris Waller trained Danchai in last Saturday’s Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich.
That was Banca Mo’s best effort since winning the Mornington Cup and followed an eleventh to Pornichet in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 9 and a tenth of ten behind Frespanol in the Listed $100,000 James Boag’s Premium Spear Chief Handicap (1630m) at Doomben on May 30.
Top Brisbane jockey Michael Cahill will be able to settle Banca Mo midfield from barrier six in the twelve horse field and give him every chance to return to the winner’s stall.
Mick Kent’s tough mare Epingle has drawn well at barrier two which will give Hugh Bowman every chance to converse every bit of energy with the steadier of 59kg.
Epingle has performed creditably during the Queensland Winter Carnival with a win and two placings from four starts.
The seven year old mare showed her liking for the Gold Coast track with a win in the Group 3 $125,000 Goldcoastwebsites.com.au Chairman’s Handicap (2200m) April 25 but followed that with a ninth in the Doomben Cup.
At her next run Bowman had Epingle racing on the pace before finishing third to Werther in the Group 2 $250,000 Pages Event Equipment Hire Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 30 and the mare was in the minor placings again when third behind Jetset Lad and Sense Of Occasion in a blanket finish in the Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben seven days later.
Victorian stayers Surpass and Escado are also heading to the Tattersall’s Cup after running seventh and eighth in the Brisbane Cup.
The Mike Moroney trained Surpass has drawn barrier four with Timothy Bell to ride while Escado has drawn next to him at three with Ben Melham on top.
Last start winner Faust is stepping up in distance after leading all of the way to beat Baligari and Jetset Lad in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel 7 Premier’s Cup (2020m) at Doomben on May 23.
Hong Kong premiership winning jockey Zac Purton will be aboard the Kurt Goldman five year old and is likely to cross over from barrier nine in the run to the first turn to take up a prominent position.
