Tanby searches for Melbourne Cup start after Bendigo Cup win

Tanby

Tanby has stacked a claim for the Melbourne Cup field with a win in the Bendigo Cup

The Lloyd William’s owned Tanby put its case for a 2011 Melbourne Cup (3200m) berth next Tuesday with a solid win in the 2011 Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) today.

The Cup produced a perfect result for wealthy owner  Lloyd Williams who quinellaed the race with At First Sight running an eye-catching second.

A Melbourne Cup start for Tanby now lies in the hands of Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter who will decide on a penalty tomorrow.

Before the race Tanby was 38th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry and a penalty for the five-year-old galloper could promote him into the field.

A two kilogram penalty would get Tanby in while one and half kilograms would have him at the doorstep.

Anything less would make it hard for the Geelong Cup runner-up to gain a spot.

Bendigo has been a happy hunting ground for Williams over the years with Gallic winning the Cup in 2004 and 2006.

“It is fantastic to quinella a race like the Bendigo Cup, there is nothing better” said part owner Nick Williams, son of Lloyd.

A jovial Williams joking advised Carpenter of the Cup penalty Tanby should receive.

“All I can say to Greg Carpenter is that it was the best Bendigo Cup in years and Tanby should get a 3kg penalty,” he laughed.

“But seriously he probably won’t get 2kg we will watch with interest.

“At First Sight was a massive run and we are very happy with him.”

The race turned out how the form students expected.

After initially working hard, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tea For Two set a steady speed under Michael Walker while Tanby under Steven King settled in the last six.

At First Sight, having its first run since suffering a virus, settled last with its big impost of 58kg.

The Luca Cumani trained Sahara Sun was well placed in fifth and Waterhouse’s more fancied runner Western Symbol, was third on the fence.

The jockeys maintain their position before Dwayne Dunn on Sahara Sun moved into the race before the home turn.

As the field spread across the track, King took an opening between horses back near the fence.

Tanby sprinted to the lead at the 300m leaving all but one opponent one paced.

At First Sight was the widest runner at the top of the straight and flashed home to finish second.

Tanby defeated At First Sight by a length and three quarters with Western Symbol fighting on a further length and a quarter away third.

At First Sight is 20th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry and staying fit will take his place in next Tuesday’s $6 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The disappointment in the race was Sahara Sun who finished eighth.

The former Chilean galloper is 24th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry but may be withdrawn particularly if it means his stablemate Bauer gets promoted into the field.

 

 

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