Trainer Joseph Pride is hoping that tough sprinter Tiger Tees can lead regular front-runner Buffering in the 2014 BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday.
Trainer Joseph Pride expects Tiger Tees to run the race of his life in the 2014 BTC Cup at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Tiger Tees has generally performed at his best when ridden close to the pace and does possess good speed out of the gates, but has been unable to take up the running from Buffering in any of their five previous meetings, including both the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 and the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on April 12 during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Pride said that Tiger Tees is racing in the best form of his career and believes that the Dubawi gelding is capable of taking up the running when he jumps from barrier two, inside Buffering who will start from barrier three, in the BTC Cup this weekend.
“He is going to leave for Brisbane tonight and he is in really good order, I couldn’t be happier with Tiger he has had a great preparation so far,” Pride said.
“He has had a bit of success in Brisbane, he has won twice up there in two separate trips, and he has also won at Doomben where he is racing.
“The barrier draw was very kind for us and I think from there that we will be able to lead Buffering and hopefully lead the race.”
Tiger Tees has produced some of his best form on rain affected tracks, highlighted by his maiden win at Group 1 level in The Galaxy (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29, and Pride is hopeful that the rain forecast to hit Brisbane over the next few days will soften up the Doomben track ahead of the running of the BTC Cup.
“What we are really relying on is some rain and it is forecast,” Pride said.
“A good deal of rain to really get the track into the dead to slow range is really going to help this horse.
“He is in fantastic order, back to 1200 is ideal and I am expecting him to run the race of his life.”
Buffering ($2.20) is currently a clear favourite in 2014 BTC Cup betting markets from Spirit Of Boom ($6.50) and Snitzerland ($7.50), but there has been plenty of support for Tiger Tees who is now into BTC Cup odds of $9 and is the market mover at Ladbrokes Australia.
