Rosehill trainer Sam Kavanagh will chase more Cup wins in Sydney with Midsummer Sun and run the six year old in the Listed $100,000 Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Midsummer Sun will run in the Australia Day Cup at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Kavanagh was toying with the idea of running in the Listed $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington on February 12 which offers the winner a free passage into the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
But the young trainer has decided to stick to the local scene and has picked out the Listed $125,000 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on March 1 as his follow up assignment.
Even though Kavanagh said that he would concentrate on Sydney racing during the Autumn, he did nominate Midsummer Sun for the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 8.
“I’ve nominated him for the Australian Cup. It’s a bit of a pipe dream but looking at the nominations, there is a lack of Group One horses,” Kavanagh told AAP.
“I think a lot of trainers might be concentrating on the Sydney races and the big prize money.
“I’d like to keep Midsummer Sun in Sydney. After Saturday, we’ll run him in the Parramatta Cup in another month and then look at what we do.”
Kavanagh has no worries about stepping Midsummer Sun up to the 2400m for the first time this preparation after coming off a last start win in the Listed $125,000 Gosford Quarries Gosford Gold Cup over 2000m at Gosford on January 10.
While the imported Midsummer Sun has won twice over the 2400m in England, his two runs for Kavanagh over the distance resulted in a twelfth in the 2013 Group 2 $300,000 Croser Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 and then a fourth to Sertorius in the Group 2 $350,000 Deadly Design Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield at the end of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“He ran a good race when fourth in the Zipping Classic which was on a leaderish track that day,” Kavanagh said.
“His other run at the distance here was in the Brisbane Cup and he came out of that with a slight respiratory issue.
“But I think I’ve worked out the best way to train him now.
“It seems to work giving him two or three races then a four week break so we’ll stick to that pattern.
“He is the healthiest I’ve had him since he’s been here and ready for the 2400 (metres).”
Saturday’s assignment is not going to be easy with Midsummer Sun coming up against the Chris Waller pair of Brigantin and I’m Imposing who ran second and fourth in the Gosford Gold Cup.
And Gai Waterhouse will be sending around her exciting front running stayer Travolta who was narrowly beaten last start by Permit in the Listed $100,000 Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick on January 1.
