Sigley Confident Dawn Approach Can Win Roma Cup

Trainer Vaughn Sigley is confident that promising gelding Dawn Approach can record his second straight win at Stakes level when he contests the 2015 Roma Cup at Belmont tomorrow.

Dawn Approach will take on Luckygray (pictured) in the 2015 edition of the Roma Cup. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Dawn Approach will take on Luckygray (pictured) in the 2015 edition of the Roma Cup. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Dawn Approach started what has been a lengthy summer campaign in October of last year and he made his black type racing debut with a comfortable win in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on January 24.

The Statue Of Liberty gelding suffered a string of defeats in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) on February 7, the Listed Pinjarra Classic (1300m) on February 22 and the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) on March 8 before he returned to winning form in the Listed Northam Toyota Stakes (1100m) on May 3.

Sigley told Racing Ahead that he was very happy with the performance of Dawn Approach in the Northam Toyota Stakes and he believes that the four-year-old is well-placed to record another win in the 2015 Roma Cup this weekend.

“He won the Northam Stakes the other day and that was at Listed level,” Sigley said.

“They both trialed together before we headed over with Bart and they both trialed well.

“He won that race pretty well and he probably wasn’t the best weighted horse in that race on the set weights and penalties scale, but we have jumped up to weight-for-age and I think he can beat them again.

“The only other two horses in the race for mine are obviously Luckygray and the bottom weight, which is Fuchsia Bandana and she is a pretty good horse.”

Luckygray has not been seen at the races since he finished fourth behind Magnifisio in the 2014 edition of the Roma Cup and he hasn’t recorded a race win since he stormed home late to take out the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), but he is still set to start the race as a clear favourite.

The Bradbury’s Lucky gelding made his first public appearance when he finished fourth in a barrier trial over 1000 metres at Belmont Park on April 20 and he showed that he was ready for a return to racing when he beat Balmont Girl, Dominating and Oneadowntowntrain in a barrier trial at the same venue on May 11.

Luckygray is currently available at 2015 Roma Cup odds of $2.90 with Ladbrokes and he is a clear favourite from Fuchsia Bandana ($4), Shining Knight ($4.20), Rock Magic ($7.50) and Dawn Approach ($9).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.