Gosh is currently available at 2015 Winter Cup odds of $21, but Chris Waller believes that the imported stayer is a genuine winning chance in what he believes is a very weak edition of the Listed event.
Danchai (inside) is one of three Chris Waller-trained gallopers in the 2015 Winter Cup field. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Gosh was competitive in races like the Group 3 Prix D’Hedouville (2400m) in France, but she has failed to fire in three race starts in Australia and she failed to beat home a runner in the Schweppes Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 30.
Waller said that he has given Gosh plenty of work in the lead-up to the Winter Cup and he believes that the Peintre Celebre mare is more than capable of winning the $100,000 race if she is able to produce anything like her European form.
“She is second-up 2400 and we have really stepped the workload up to her,” Waller said.
“She has coped with it pretty well to be fair, she has drawn well, she has won over 2400 metres in France.
“She goes up in class, but she certainly drops in weight.
“You have to say that it is a weak Winter Cup, so I would say that anyone of our three could win.”
The Waller stable also has Danchai and Our Voodoo Prince in the 2015 Winter Cup field and he is confident that both stayers could deliver him another black-type victory this weekend.
Danchai recorded his maiden Australian race win when he held-off Banca Mo to win the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 13, while he believes that Our Voodoo Prince is ready to return to winning form following placings in both the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick on May 23 and the Stayers Cup (3200m) at the same venue on June 6.
“Based on Danchai’s last start win in the Ipswich Cup that was a more competitive race than this,” Waller said.
“Our Voodoo Prince has had his chances and he is coming back from two miles.
“There is no excuses for any of them and they need to shape up.
“It is a bad race.”
Danchai is currently available at 2015 Winter Cup odds of $2.40 with Ladbrokes and is a narrow favourite from Gai Waterhouse-trained Bonfire ($2.80), the consistent Dream Folk ($6.50), Stayers Cup runner-up Our Voodoo Prince ($8), imported stayer Kapour ($12), Gosh ($21) and extreme outsider Rapa Nui ($126).
