Short priced favourite Maurus has drawn worse than midfield at barrier eight in the thirteen horse field for the Listed $175,000 Cellar Maintenance Australia Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Maurus, above, has been installed the short priced favourite for the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Maurus scored a runaway win in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 18 and bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have him as the $1.80 favourite for the Caloundra Cup.
Top local jockey Damian Browne has retained the mount on the David Vandyke trained five year old after bringing him from near the tail of the field to score a dominant three and a half length win at Ipswich.
“I was happy enough when Damian (jockey Browne) went back to last but I must admit I was a bit nervous when Damian took off and made a wide run,” Vandyke said.
“But Damian had a strong hold on him and they were going to win a long way out.”
Toowoomba four year old Jumbo Prince ($7) and the Dale Healey trained Instrumentalist (18) are set to clash again with Maurus after finishing second and third in the Ipswich Cup.
Jumbo Prince has drawn wide at barrier ten with Jim Byrne getting the ride again while leading Brisbane apprentice James Orman has retained the ride on Instrumentalist who has drawn nicely at barrier two.
Topweight Index Linked looks set to back up in the Caloundra Cup after winning the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
The Chris Waller trained Index Linked has drawn barrier eleven with Kerrin McEvoy taking over from Hugh Bowman and is on the second line of betting at $6.50.
Puccini from the Darren Weir stable has drawn the outside barrier with Michael Cahill taking over from Irish jockey John Allen.
The Encosta De Lago five year old has been struggling to find any consistent form over the Queensland Winter Carnival and heads to the Sunshine Coast on the back of a last start fourth to Maurus in the Ipswich Cup.
Puccini’s best effort over the Carnival was a second to stalemate Real Love three starts back in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 28.
Early market order for the Caloundra Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.80 Maurus, $6.50 Index Linked, $7 Jumbo Price, $10 Holy Cow, $14 Puccini, $18 Instrumentalist, $21 Amexed, $26 Gesemi, My Diamantine, All Clear, $51 Tunes, Pop ‘N’ Scotch, $81 Typing.
