Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has four runners in the 2014 Winter Stakes and he believes that Coup Ay Tee has the best chance of upsetting favourites Scream Machine and Generalife in the Listed event at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
Chris Waller believes that Coup Ay Tee is his best chance of winning the Winter Stakes at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow. Photo by: Steve Hart
Coup Ay Tee has had three race starts since returning to the races in the Octagonal Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 31 and after making up ground in both the Sydney Markets Limited Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 14 and the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at the same venue on July 5, Waller believes that the six-year-old is now at his peak for the Winter Stakes this weekend.
“I like Coup Ay Tee and his work has been very good,” Waller said.
“He finally has a decent draw, he is fit, he has a dead track and I think that he is the one to beat from our stable.
“I’m not saying that he can beat the two hot-pots, but I think that he is a very good chance.”
Waller also has Tromso, Tougher Than Ever and Hidden Kisses in the Winter Stakes field and he is confident that likely leader Tromso will be in the race for a long way.
Tromso started his winter campaign with wins in the Power Access Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 10 and Octagonal Handicap, but failed to fire in the Sydney Markets Limited Handicap and Civic Stakes.
Waller admits that Tromso does not get into the race well in the weights and is unlikely to beat Scream Machine or Generalife, but he is hoping that the veteran gelding can return to a semblance of his best form.
“He will get a nice run here,” Waller said.
“He hasn’t been able to dictate like we would have liked to at his last couple and he is weighted up to his best, especially when you are taking on good horses like Scream Machine and Generalife.
“He is going to find it hard to beat them, but he will be there with 100 metres left to run and hopefully hangs on.”
Scream Machine ($3.30) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Winter Stakes betting markets from Generalife ($3.50), while Tromso ($17), Coup Ay Tee ($15), Tougher Than Ever ($12) and Hidden Kisses ($13) are all available at double figure odds.
